mmm  bethlehbm  mmm 


-R-MILLER 


/ 


THE  LIFE 

OF 

JESUS 
CHRIST 

ILLUSTRATED 

BY 

MODERN 
PAINTERS 


/ 


BETHLEHEM    TO    OLIVET 


?getf)lei)em  to  ©libet 


BY 

J.  R.  MILLER,  D.D. 

Author  of  "  Making  the  Most  of  Life," 
"  Silent  Times,"  etc. 


THE  LIFE   OF  JESUS  CHRIST 

ILLUSTRATED     BY    MODERN     PAINTERS 


NEW  YORK 
THOMAS  Y.  CROWELL   &  CO. 

PUBLISHERS 


..y^ 


CONTENTS 


CHAPTER   I 

PAOB 

THE   GOSPEL   OF   THE   INFANCY    ...  i 


CHAPTER    II 
THE   COMING   OF  JESUS   CHRIST         ...         7 

CHAPTER   III 
THE   MOTHER   AND   THE   CHILD    ...  13 

CHAPTER    IV 
THE   WATCHFULNESS   OF   GOD  ...        19 

CHAPTER   V 
THE   HOLY   CHILDHOOD  ....  25 

CHAPTER    VI 

THE    YOUTH    OF   JESUS    CHRIST  .  .  •        3X 

V 


CONTENTS 


CHAPTER   VII 

PAGE 

THE   SHADOW   OF   THE   CROSS        ...  37 


CHAPTER   VIII 
"NOT   DEAD,   BUT   SLEEPETH "  .  .  -43 

CHAPTER   IX 
"LORD,   SAVE   ME" 49 

CHAPTER   X 
THE   CHILDREN'S   FRIEND  .  .  .  .55 

CHAPTER   XI 
THE   TEACHER   BY   THE   SEA  .  .  .  6i 

CHAPTER   XII 
CHRIST   AT  THE   DOOR 67 

CHAPTER   XIII 
THE   LORD   IS   MY   SHEPHERD         ...  73 

CHAPTER   XIV 
THE   COMPASSION   OF   CHRIST  .  .  -79 

vi 


CONTENTS 

CHAPTER    XV 
UNREQUITED    LOVE        .  .  .  •  •  85 


I'AGE 


CHAPTER    XVI 
THE    COMING    OF   THE    KING  •        Qi 

CHAPTER    XVII 
REMEMBER  JESUS   CHRIST   .  .  •  •  97 

CHAPTER   XVIII 
THE   LESSON    OF   SERVICE  .  •  .103 

CHAPTER    XIX 
THE    REFUGE    IN    SORROW     .  .  .  •  »09 

CHAPTER    XX 
•'COULD    YE    NOT   WATCH    ONE    HOUR?"    •  "5 

CHAPTER    XXI 
WHY    DID    PETER    FAIL?  ..••"! 

CHAPTER    XXII 
"WHAT    SHALL    I    DO   WITH   JESUS?"  •      "7 

vii 


CONTENTS 


CHAPTER   XXIII 

PAGE 

"BEHOLD   THE   MAN" 133 


CHAPTER   XXIV 
THE   GREAT   MYSTERY   OF  LOVE        .  .139 

CHAPTER   XXV 
LAST   AT  THE   CROSS,   FIRST   AT   THE   GRAVE        145 

CHAPTER   XXVI 
THE  WOMEN   FRIENDS  OF  JESUS      .  .  .151 

CHAPTER   XXVII 
THE  WALK  TO   EMMAUS        ....  157 

CHAPTER   XXVIII 
THE   PATHOS   OF   DIVINE   LOVE  .  .163 

CHAPTER   XXIX 
THE   KING   AND   HIS   KINGDOM       ...  169 

CHAPTER   XXX 
THE   PARTING   BLESSING  .  .  .  .175 

viii 


ILLUSTRATIONS 


THE   ARRIVAL   OF   THE   SHEPHERDS. 

By  Henry  LerolU.  ConUmporary  French  School. 

THE    STAR    OF   BETHLEHEM. 

By  Sir  Edward  Bume-Jones,  Bart.,  British  School. 

MARY  AND  THE  CHILD  JESUS. 

By  P.  A.  J.  Dagnan-Bouveret,  Contemporary  French  School. 

THE   REPOSE   IN    EGYPT. 

By  Luc  Olivier  Alerson,  Contemporary  French  School 

JESUS   CHRIST   AS   A   CHILD. 

By  Jef  Leempocls,  Contemporary  Flemish  School. 

THE   CHILD   CHRIST. 

By  P.  A.  J.  Dagnan-Bouveret,  Contemporary  French  Scliool. 

THE   SHADOW   OF   DEATH. 

By  W.  Holman  Hunt,  O.U.,  Contemporary  British  School. 

ix 


ILLUSTRATIONS 


THE   RAISING   OF  JAIRUS'S    DAUGHTER. 

By  G.  P.  Jacomb-Hood,  Contemporary  British  School. 

CHRIST  AND  PETER  ON  THE  LAKE  OF 
GALILEE. 

By  Frederick  J.  Shields,  Contemporary  British  Scliool. 

"  SUFFER  THE  LITTLE  CHILDREN  TO    COME  UNTO 
ME." 

By  Mile.  OttiUe  Roederstein,  Contemporary  Swiss  School. 

CHRIST   PREACHING   BY   THE   LAKE. 

By  F.  von  Uhde,  Contemporary  German  Scltool. 

THE   LIGHT   OF  THE   WORLD. 

By  W.  Holman  Hunt,  O.M.,  Contemporary  British  School. 

THE   GOOD   SHEPHERD. 

By  Frederick  J.  Shields,  Contemporary  British  ScJwol. 

"COME  UNTO  ME,  ALL  YE  THAT  LABOUR  AND 
ARE  HEAVY-LADEN." 

By  Anton  Dietrich,  Contemporary  German  School. 

CHRIST  WEEPS   OVER   THE   CITY. 

By  Paul  Hippolyte  Flandrin,  Contemporary  French  School. 

CHRIST   ENTERS  JERUSALEM. 

By  yean  Leon  Gerome,  Contemporary  French  School. 
X 


ILLUSTRATIONS 

THE    LAST    SUPPER, 

By'iEduard  ivn  Gebhardt,  Contemporary  German  School. 

CHRIST    WASHING    PETER'S    FEET. 
By  Ford  Uadox  Brown,  British  School. 

CHRIST    AT    GETHSEMANE. 

By  J.  M.  Heinrich  Hofmann,  Contemporary  German  School. 

GETHSEMANE. 

Byf.  H.  F.  Bacon,  A.R.A.,  Contemporary  British  School. 

PETER'S    DENIAL. 

By  Gra/  Harrach,  Contemporary  German  School. 

CHRIST    BEFORE    PILATE. 

By  Michael  de  Munkacsy,  Hungarian  School. 

ECCE    HOMO. 

By  Antonio  Ciseri,  Italian  Scltool. 

THE    CRUCIFIXION. 

By  Lion  Bonnat,  Contemporary  French  School. 

MARY    MAGDALENE   AT  THE    FOOT   OF    THE    CROSS. 
By  Juki  Joseph  Lefebnnc,  Contemporary  Fraich  School. 

xi 


ILLUSTRATIONS 

THE   HOLY   WOMEN   AT   THE   TOMB. 

By  William  Adolphe  Bouguereait,  French  School. 

THE   SUPPER   AT   EMMAUS. 

By  Eugene  Girardet,  Contemporary  French  School. 

THE   LOST   SHEEP. 

By  A.  U.  Soord,  Contemporary  British  Sclwol. 

CHRIST'S  MISSION   TO  THE   APOSTLES. 

By  Joseph  Auhert,  Contemporary  Frettch  School. 

THE  ASCENSION. 

By  Ernst  von  Liphart,  Contemporary  German  School. 


xn 


THE    GOSPEL 
OF    THE    INFANCY 

TXTE  look  for  the  glory  of  the  life 
of  Jesus  in  His  manhood's  years. 
Then  He  wrought  great  miracles,  re- 
vealing His  divine  power.  Then  He 
spoke  His  wonderful  words  which 
have  touched  the  world  with  their 
influence  of  blessing.  Then  He  went 
about  doing  good,  showing  the  love 
of  God  in  all  His  common  life,  and 
on  His  cross.  We  do  not  turn  to  the 
infancy  of  Jesus  for  supernatural  re- 
vealings.  The  apocryphal  Gospels 
have  their  stories  of  infant  prodigies, 
but  we  do   not  accept  these,  and  are 


THE    GOSPEL    OF 

careful  to  say  that  Jesus  wrought  no 
miracles  and  showed  no  revealings  of 
deity  until  He  had  been  anointed  with 
the  Holy  Spirit. 

Yet  in  no  portion  of  the  life  of 
Jesus  Christ  is  there  really  greater 
glory  than  in  His  birth.  Nothing 
showed  more  love  for  the  world  than 
His  condescending  to  be  born.  We 
should  say  that  the  heart  of  the  gospel 
was  the  cross,  but  the  first  act  of 
redemption  was  the  Incarnation,  when 
the  Son  of  God  emptied  Himself  of 
His  divine  attributes  and  entered 
human  life  in  all  the  feebleness  and 
helplessness  of  infancy.  In  its  reveal- 
ing of  love  and  grace,  the  cradle  of 
Jesus  is  as  marvellous  as  His    cross. 

It  is  impossible  to  sum  up  the 
blessings  of  this  holy  Infancy.     Child- 


Q 

K  o 

U  -§ 

X  '^ 

fl.  ^ 

a  i: 

CO  '*. 

w  1^ 

h  *• 

u.  I 

>  c 

<  i 

s  ^ 

h 


THE    INFANCY 

hood    everywhere    is    exalted     by     it. 
Something  of  the  light  of  the  manger 
shines  now  about  every  child's  cradle. 
Wonderful  has  been  the  ministry  even 
of  the   pictures    of   the    infant    Jesus. 
Where  the  story  of  the  birth  of  Christ 
is   known  the   world   becomes  a  safer 
place     for     all    children  ;     hearts    are 
gentler     and     truer,    and     the     air    is 
sweeter  where  the  Christmas  message 
is    told.       Since    Christ,    the    Son    of 
God,  was  born  the  Son  of  Mary,  all 
infancy  is  sacred. 

*'  Trailing  clouds  of  glory  do  we  come 
From  God  who  is  our  home  : 
Heaven   lies  about  us  in  our  infancy." 

We  should  learn  to  reverence  child- 
hood. The  home  to  which  a  baby 
has    come    is    a    sacred    place.      It    is 

5 


THE    GOSPEL 

nigh  to  heaven.  The  parents  who 
fail  to  understand  the  blessing  that 
has  come  to  them  in  their  little  one 
are  missing  a  revelation  as  glorious  as 
the  burning  bush,  before  which  Moses 
was  bidden  to  take  oflt  his  shoes. 


THE    COMING    OF 
JESUS    CHRIST 

'\1[7'E  wonder  at  the  strange  recep- 
tion Jesus  had  in  this  world. 
We  would  have  said  that  He  would 
be  welcomed  enthusiastically.  But 
He  came  almost  unobserved.  Some 
lowly  shepherds,  learning  through  an 
angelic  vision  of  what  had  happened, 
came  in  to  see  the  wonderful  Child. 
But  that  was  all.  The  great  event 
made  no  stir  in  Jerusalem.  ''  His 
own   received   Him  not." 

But  one  day  Jerusalem  was  startled 
by  the  coming  of  a  delegation  of  wise 
men  from   the  far  East.      They  spoke 

7 


THE    COMING    OF 

of  a  King  who  had  been  born  in  the 
country  of  the  Jews.  Neither  Herod 
nor  the  rulers  had  any  thought  of 
such  an  event  in  their  midst.  The 
world  does  not  recognise  its  true 
royalty. 

Tradition  says  they  were  kings  who 
came.  They  certainly  were  thought- 
ful men — reverent,  devout,  sincere 
seekers  after  that  which  is  good  and 
true.  They  were  men  of  character  ; 
they  were  also  rich,  for  they  came 
laden  with  treasures — gold,  frankin- 
cense and  myrrh.  Yet  they  bowed 
down  to  this  Child  King,  whom  they 
found  in  lowly  circumstances,  giving 
Him  highest  honour,  and  laying  their 
gifts  at  His  feet.  Even  this  incident, 
however,  made  no  lasting  impression. 

The    people  were    indifferent.      None 

8 


w  •= 

a  5 

w  (^ 

•->  - 

a  ^" 

h 


6a 


JESUS    CHRIST 

of  them  followed  the  Magi  to  worship 
their  King.  The  only  result  was  the 
tragedy  of  Bethlehem — the  slaying  of 
the  little  children  in  Herod's  jealous 
plot  to  destroy  the  new-born   King. 

So  it  is  always.  Jesus  divides  men. 
Many  turn  from  the  glory  of  His  life 
with  indifference.  They  ignore  Him. 
They  laugh  at  the  adoring  of  His 
friends  and  their  faith  in  Him.  They 
see   no  beauty  in   Him. 

Yet  always  there  are  those  who  see 
in  Jesus  the  King  of  glory.  They  are 
drawn  to  Him  in  love  that  becomes 
a  very  fire  in  their  hearts.  They 
stop  at  no  cost  or  sacrifice  in  follow- 
ing and  serving  Him.  They  bring 
Him  their  best  treasures — not  money, 
but  the  gold,  frankincense  and  myrrh 

of  their  hearts. 

1 1 


THE    COMING 

Christ  never  disappoints  any  who 
are  drawn  to  Him  in  adoration  and 
devotion.  Visions  of  beauty  and 
blessing  in  Him  never  fade  out. 
Every  hope  in  Him  is  realised.  None 
who  ever  turn  to  Him  in  need  and 
heart-hunger  will  fail  to  be  satisfied. 
Every  promise  that  He  gives  becomes 
a  glorious  reality  to  those  who  accept 
it. 


12 


THE  MOTHER 
AND  THE  CHILD 

'T^HE  picture  of  the  Virgin  Mother 
and  the  Holy  Child  has  wrought 
itself  inextricably  into  the  life  of 
Christendom.  It  is  a  blessed  evangel 
wherever  it  is  seen,  sweetening  homes, 
softening  hearts,  inspiring  heavenly 
aspirations.  But  in  the  light  of  the 
story  of  Jesus  Christ  every  mother  and 
child  have  a  deep  interest  to  all  true- 
hearted  men.  To  the  reverent  mind, 
motherhood  is  always  sacred.  It  stands 
near  to  God.  When  a  little  child  is 
laid  in  the  arms  of  a  mother,  a  holy 

13 


THE  MOTHER  AND 

trust  is  committed  to  her,  an  immortal 
life  in  its  first  beginnings,  which  she  is 
to  train  and  make  ready  for  its  mission. 
Croons  a  reverent  young  mother, 

**  My  child,  I  fear  thee  ;  thou'rt  a  spirit,  soul  ! 
How  shall  I  walk  before  thee  ?  keep  my  garments 

whole  ? 
O  Lord,  give  strength,  give  wisdom,  for  the  task 
To  train  this  child  for  Thee." 

It  was  a  holy  trust  indeed  that  was 
committed  to  Mary,  when  she  was 
chosen  to  be  the  mother  of  the 
Redeemer.  It  behoved  her  to  be  holy 
in  her  own  person  and  diligent  in  her 
care  of  her  child.  But  scarcely  less 
serious  is  the  responsibility  of  every 
mother.  She  does  not  know  for  what 
lofty  mission  her  child  has  been  born. 
Her  hand  must  never  slacken,  nor 
must   she  fail   God   in  her   duty  as  a 

14 


Copyrifihl  Holders: 


MARY    AND    THE    CHILD    JESUS 
By  P.  A.  y.  Dafinan-Bouveret,  Contemporary  Freiuh  School 

Brauu,  CUmenI  fr  Co ,  Paris,  tqo2 


THE    CHILD 

mother,  else  she  may  wreck  a  divine 
plan  for  a  life. 

Great  is  a  mother's  joy  as  she  sees 
her  child  grow  up  in  beauty  and 
strength — the  answer  to  her  prayers, 
the  fruit  of  her  faithfrilness.  Ofttimes, 
too,  sorrow  falls  to  the  lot  of  mother- 
hood. When  Mary  presented  her 
Child  to  God  in  the  Temple,  she  was 
granted  a  vision  of  His  future  great- 
ness, but  she  was  shown  a  vision  also 
of  a  day  when  she  should  stand  by  His 
cross,  her  own  heart  pierced  by  the 
nails  that  pierced  His  hands  and  feet. 

The   veil  is  not   lifted  to  reveal  to 

other  mothers  what  experiences   their 

children  may   meet,  yet  there  are  few 

mothers   whose   love    does    not    bring 

them    grief  as  well  as  joy.      There  is 

always    pain    in    the    responsibility    of 

17  c 


THE    MOTHER,    THE    CHILD 

motherhood,  in  love's  solicitudes. 
Many  times,  too,  is  there  sorrow  over 
the  failure  of  bright  dreams.  Some- 
times it  is  suffering  in  her  children 
that  makes  the  mother  stand  pale  and 
with  anguished  heart  beside  them.  Or 
it  may  be  their  early  death  that  is  the 
cause  of  her  grief.  Motherhood  never 
misses  pain.  But  pain  enriches.  Only 
the  mother  who  suffers  learns  love's 
holiest  secrets. 


i8 


THE    WATCHFULNESS 
OF    GOD 

T^OES  God  watch  over  the  lives  of 
little  children  on  the  earth  ? 
Does  He  keep  guard  over  imperilled 
infancy  ?  The  story  of  the  flight  of 
the  Holy  Family  to  Egypt  answers  the 
question  in  the  case  of  one  infant  life. 
It  was  a  flight  divinely  ordered  and 
directed.  The  Child  Jesus  was  in 
danger.  There  was  no  human  way 
of  escape.  He  who  had  come  to 
earth  to  be  the  Redeemer  of  men 
was  about  to  be  slain  in  His  cradle. 
Then  Heaven  interfered  for  His 
deliverance.    An  angel  came  to  Joseph, 

19 


THE  WATCHFULNESS   OF   GOD 

bidding  him  hasten  away  because  the 
Ufe  of  the  Child  was  in  peril.  Instantly 
the  command  was  obeyed,  and  when 
Herod's  soldiers  came,  the  Child  they 
were  sent  to  destroy  was  safe  beyond 
their  reach. 

The  Child  Jesus  was  unique  in  the 
world's  history,  but  the  same  provi- 
dence that  watched  over  His  infancy 
watches  over  the  infancy  of  every 
child.  To  our  eyes  evil  seems  to  strike 
where  it  pleases.  Weakness  appears 
to  have  no  defence  against  strength. 
Pestilence  knows  no  distinction  when 
it  comes  into  a  community,  but  enters 
the  homes  of  the  evil  and  the  good 
with  like  impunity.  But  ever  Heaven 
is  watching.  There  are  lives  no 
pestilence  can  touch.      There  is  a  wall 

of  protection  about  them  which  noth- 

20 


I 


THE  WATCHFULNESS   OF    GOD 

ing  can  pass.  The  child  who  has  a 
mission  for  God  in  the  future  cannot 
be  stricken  in  his  cradle. 

Only  one  thing  need  concern  us — 
the  doing  of  our  duty,  hour  by  hour, 
as  it  comes  to  us.  We  have  nothing 
whatever  to  do  with  the  keeping  of 
our  own  lives.  We  never  need  to  ask 
whether  a  certain  way  is  safe  for  us. 
Absolutely  the  only  question  we  need 
to  ask  is,  what  God  would  have  us  to 
do.  His  way  is  the  safe  way,  though 
it  be  through  a  thousand  perils.  If  we 
listen  for  the  divine  voice,  and  then 
follow  it  without  question,  we  shall 
ever  be  under  the  wings  of  God. 

The  legends  tell  of  the  way  the 
Holy  Family  were  led,  protected  and 
provided  for,  in  the  flight  to  Egypt. 
We  call  these  apocryphal  stories.     But 

23 


THE  WATCHFULNESS    OF   GOD 

no  matter.  Heaven  was  really  open 
over  these  peasant  travellers  all  the  way. 
So  heaven  is  open  over  every  one  who 
seeks  safety  and  care  in  obedience  to 
the  divine  command. 


24 


THE    HOLY    CHILDHOOD 

TXT'E  are  apt  to  think  that,  as  a 
child,  Jesus  must  have  been 
different  from  other  children.  When 
we  remember  that  He  was  the  Son  of 
God,  it  seems  to  us  that  there  must 
have  been  divine  revealings  even  in 
His  infancy.  The  apocryphal  Gospels 
make  the  story  of  Christ's  boyhood  a 
"  blaze  of  miracle."  But  in  their 
efforts  to  show  His  divine  character 
they  give  us  a  most  undivine  por- 
traiture. The  Child  Jesus,  as  they 
depict  Him,  is  cruel,  vindictive, 
smiting  down  other  children  that 
resist     His     desires.       His    bearing    is 

25 


THE    HOLY    CHILDHOOD 

forward  and  ungentle.  He  is  mis- 
chievous and  domineering. 

Altogether  different,  however,  is  the 
portraiture  of  the  childhood  of  Jesus 
given  in  the  Gospels.  He  grew  up 
among  other  children,  with  nothing 
in  Him  to  set  Him  apart  from  them. 
He  was  not  precocious,  but  learned 
His  lessons  by  hard  study,  as  they 
did.  He  was  humble  and  simple  in 
His  manner,  obedient  to  His  parents, 
gentle  to  all  about  Him,  sweet  and 
beautiful  in  His  disposition.  He  was 
the  Son  of  God,  but  the  divine  glory 
in  Him  was  revealed  in  a  perfectly 
natural  human  childhood. 

We    may    think    of    the    influences 

amid  which  this  Holy  Child  grew  up. 

His    home  life  was   pure  and   gentle, 

with  an  atmosphere  of  love  and  prayer. 

26 


Cotyriaht  Hctders  : 


JESUS   CHRIST    AS   A   CHILD 

By  JcJ  Uentpocls.  Co«/<mfvru.>  FUtr.nh  School 

Broun.  CUinent  Sr  Co.,  Paris,  i«)o» 


THE    HOLY    CHILDHOOD 

Nazareth  was  like  a  garden  in  its 
beauty.  The  village,  nestling  within 
a  circlet  of  hills,  has  been  described 
as  "  like  a  handful  of  pearls  in  a  goblet 
of  emeralds." 

We  know  that  in  one  sense  the 
Child  Jesus  was  different  from  other 
children — He  was  sinless.  This  means 
that  He  lived  a  life  of  communion  with 
God  from  His  earliest  years.  But  this 
did  not  make  Him  unnatural  or  un- 
wholesome in  His  life, — it  only  made 
Him  the  sweeter.  Love  always  ruled 
in  Him.  He  was  gentle  and  thought- 
ful, never  unkind,  severe,  censorious. 
His  sinlessness  did  not  make  Him  a 
prodigy  among  His  playmates.  The 
divine  in  Him  was  revealed  in  the 
graces  which  everywhere  are  recognised 

as  the  fruits  of  the  Holy  Spirit. 

29 


THE    HOLY    CHILDHOOD 

Artists  seek  to  put  the  most  mar- 
vellous beauty  into  the  face  of  the 
Child  Jesus.  No  doubt  He  was  beau- 
tiful. The  heart  makes  the  face,  and 
the  perfect  love  and  grace  that  dwelt 
in  Him  must  have  made  His  counte- 
nance altogether  lovely. 


30 


THE    YOUTH     OF 
JESUS    CHRIST 

npHOUGH  it  be  so  little,  enough 
is  told  us  of  the  youth  of  Jesus 
Christ  to  enable  us  to  fill  out  a  very 
beautiful  picture.  One  of  the  charms 
of  childhood  is  its  continual  unfolding, 
as  when  a  rosebud  opens,  little  by 
little,  till  the  full-blown  rose  delights 
us.  The  growth  of  Jesus  was  not 
abnormal,  but  natural.  It  was  not  in 
piety  only  that  He  grew,  but  physically, 
as  well — He  "  waxed  strong,"  and 
"  advanced  in  stature."  He  also  be- 
came "  filled  with  wisdom,"  which 
means  that  He  was  a  diligent  learner. 

31 


THE    YOUTH    OF 

We  are  told  also  that  "  the  grace  of 
God  was  upon  Him,"  and  that  He 
"  advanced  ...  in  favour  with  God 
and  men."  This  means  that  His  life 
grew  more  and  more  beautiful  and 
lovable  continually. 

A  single  word  gives  us  another 
glimpse  of  His  youth — the  "  car- 
penter." He  wrought  at  a  trade  until 
He  dropped  His  tools  to  begin  His 
public  ministry.  It  means  a  great  deal 
to  a  tired  man,  as  he  reads  the  story, 
to  be  able  to  say, 

"  Yes,  yes,  a  carpenter,  same  trade  as  mine, 
It  warms  my  heart  as  I  read  that  line. 
I   can   stand   the   hard   work,  I   can   stand    the 

poor  pay. 
For  I'll  see  that  Carpenter  at  no  distant  day." 

Another  thing  about  the  youth  of 
Jesus  is  that  He  found  the  sphere  for 

32 


THE  CHILD  CHRIST 

By  P.  A.  y.  DiJf^nan  HiU.iKl.  d  iilimp\:niiy  Frciuh  School 

Copyright  HoUUrs  : 
Braun,  CUmtnt  &■  Co.,  Parii,  and  the  Painter 

Ccpyright,  igoj,  by  Braun,  Cl.'incnt  &  Cv. 


JESUS    CHRIST 

His  glorious  life  with  all  its  powers  in 
life's  common  duties.  We  might 
think  that  being  the  Son  of  God 
He  would  be  exempt  from  the  tasks  of 
ordinary  childhood.  But  He  differed 
in  no  sense  in  this  respect  from  other 
children.  At  His  first  visit  to  the 
temple  He  seems  to  have  become  fully 
aware  of  His  relation  to  the  heavenly 
Father.  But  with  this  new  glory  in 
His  heart.  He  went  back  to  His  peasant 
home  with  His  mother  and  Joseph  and 
was  subject  to  them.  He  found  His 
"  Father's  business  "  in  the  obediences, 
obligations  and  tasks  of  His  lowly 
station. 

The  youth  of  Jesus  teaches  that  the 
truest  and  divinest  life  is  the  one  that 
in  its  place,  high  or  low,  does  best 
the  will  of  God.      Browning  tells  of  an 

35 


YOUTH    OF  JESUS    CHRIST 

angel  who  took  the  place  of  a  dis- 
contented boy  and  did  his  lowly  task- 
work. 

"  He  did  God's  will — to  Him  all  one 
If  on  the  earth  or  in  the  sun." 

Jesus  teaches  us  that  the  life  of  the 
carpenter's  apprentice  is  as  holy  as  the 
ministry  of  a  radiant  angel  about  God's 
throne. 


36 


THE     SHADOW    OF 
THE    CROSS 

npHE  artist's  thought  in  his  picture 
is  that  the  shadow  of  the  young 
Carpenter  as  it  fell  upon  the  wall  was 
a  prophesy  of  His  life.  The  cross  did 
not  come  to  Him  as  a  surprise — its 
shadow  rested  on  Him  in  the  brightest, 
busiest  days.  There  was  no  hour  when 
He  did  not  see  what  the  end  would 
be.  Other  men  are  born  to  live — 
Jesus  was  born  to  die.  Other  men 
look  forward  to  a  goal  of  splendid 
success  in  the  world — great  achiev- 
ments,     worthy     attainments,     power, 

37 


THE   SHADOW   OF  THE  CROSS 

position,  honour — the  goal  of  Jesus  was 
His  cross. 

In  His  earliest  infancy  the  shadow 
fell  over  Him.  He  was  saved  from 
death  only  by  flight  into  Egypt.  When 
John  the  Baptist  pointed  Him  out  to 
his  friends  as  the  Messiah,  he  spoke 
of  Him  as  the  Lamb  of  God,  the 
Lamb  of  Sacrifice. 

In  His  teaching  Jesus  revealed  from 
the  first  His  consciousness  of  His 
appointment  to  death.  One  of  the 
earliest  incidents  of  His  public  life  was 
His  conversation  with  Nicodemus, 
to  whom  He  said  that  the  Son  of 
Man  must  be  lifted  up,  that  is,  on  His 
cross,  that  all  might  see  Him  and 
believe.  He  told  the  people,  too, 
that  they  would  destroy  the  temple, 
meaning     His     body.      When     Peter, 

38 


THE   SHADOW   OF   DEATH 

By  W.  Hohnan  Hunt.  OM.,  ConUmporaiy  British  School 
Reproduced  from  a  Large  Engraving  by  F.  Slacfoole,  AJljt. 


Copyright  Holders ; 


Thomas  Agnew  &  Sons.  39*,  Old  Bond  Street,  London,  W. 


THE   SHADOW   OF  THE   CROSS 

speaking  for  all  the  disciples,  said  that 
He  was  the  Christ,  thinking,  however, 
of  a  glorious  earthly  royalty,  Jesus 
began  at  once  to  say  that  He  must 
suffer  many  things  and  must  be  killed. 
This  was  His  own  interpretation  of  the 
Messiahship  which  His  disciples  had  so 
nobly  confessed. 

When  two  of  His  followers,  dream- 
ing of  the  brilliant  court  of  the  great 
King  that  they  supposed  their  Master 
about  to  become,  asked  first  places  in 
His  kingdom.  He  spoke  to  them  of  a 
cup  He  must  drink  and  a  baptism 
with  which  He  must  be  baptized,  and 
asked  them  if  they  were  ready  for  such 
a  course  as  His  must  be.  When  a  feast 
was  given  in  His  honour  and  a  woman 
anointed  Him,  He  said  she  had  done 
it  for  His  burial.     When  He  would  give 

41 


THE  SHADOW  OF  THE  CROSS 

His  friends  a  memorial  of  His  love,  it 
was  not  His  wonderful  teachings,  nor 
His  great  miracles  that  He  asked  them 
to  remember,  but  that  He  had  given 
Himself  for  them. 

Thus  from  the  infancy  to  the  close, 
the  shadow  of  the  cross  rested  upon 
the  soul  of  Jesus.  Yet  it  did  not 
sadden  Him.  Never  sunnier-hearted 
man  lived  than  He.  He  knew  the 
meaning  of  the  cross,  that  it  would 
make  redemption  for  the  world,  so  He 
went  to  it  with  joy,  singing  a  hymn  as 
He  left  the  upper  room  for  the  garden. 


42 


"NOT    DEAD,    BUT 
SLEEPETH  " 

TT  is  a  charming  story.  Probably 
Jairus  had  not  sought  to  know 
Jesus  hitherto.  Probably  he  would 
not  have  sought  Him  now  but  for 
his  distress.  Trouble  turns  to  Christ 
many  a  heart  that  otherwise  would 
never  have  gone  to  Him.  This  little 
girl  was  the  father's  only  child.  That 
made  her  dearer.  She  was  now  at  the 
point  of  death.  That  made  the  case 
most  urgent. 

Jairus  believed  that  if  only  Jesus 
would  come  and  lay  His  hands  on  her 
she  would  live.    The  Master  responded 

43 


"NOT  DEAD,   BUT  SLEEPETH" 

instantly,  and  He  set  out  with  the 
anxious  father.  But  there  was  an 
interruption.  As  they  were  pressing 
their  way  through  the  crowd,  a  poor 
woman  reached  out  her  hand  and 
touched  the  Master's  garment.  We 
might  think  that  Jesus  would  not  have 
allowed  Himself  to  be  detained  for  a 
moment  even  by  another  case  of  need, 
but  He  lingered   to  help  the  woman. 

When  He  was  ready  to  go  on,  a 
messenger  came  and  said  to  the  ruler, 
"  Thy  daughter  is  dead  ;  why  troublest 
thou  the  Teacher  any  further  ?  "  When 
death  comes  all  is  over.  But  Jesus 
said  quietly  to  the  father,  "  Fear  not, 
only  believe."  It  is  never  too  late  for 
Him  to  help.  So  they  went  on  to  the 
house. 

Already    the   professional    mourners 

44 


H  § 

o  *: 

<  "c 

Q  (Q 

05  £* 

«  1 

<  5 
O  ^ 


"NOT   DEAD,  BUT   SLEEPETH " 

were  in  charge,  making  their  noisy 
clamour.  Jesus  sought  to  quiet  the 
tumult,  but  the  mourners  paid  no  heed 
to  His  words,  only  laughed  at  Him. 
The  world  still  laughs  at  the  hope  of 
immortality.  Then  He  exercised  His 
authority  and  bade  them  all  leave  the 
room.  Only  the  parents  and  three  of 
His  own  disciples  did  He  permit  to  be 
with  Him.  Only  love  and  faith  could 
be  admitted  to  a  scene  of  such 
solemnity  and  awe.  Besides,  it  was 
fitting  that  when  the  little  girl  awoke 
she  should  not  be  abashed  by  the 
presence  of  a  crowd  in  her  room. 

The  manner  of  working  the  miracle 
was  beautiful.  The  Master  had  a  most 
tender  love  for  children,  and  this  was 
a  child.  He  did  not  merely  call  her, 
but    took    her    hand,    and    then    said, 

47 


"NOT   DEAD,  BUT   SLEEPETH " 

"  Talitha  cumi  ;  Damsel,  I  say  unto 
thee.  Arise."  There  was  no  delay,  no 
slow  returning  of  the  life.  Instantly 
the  child  rose  up,  and  walked.  Either 
their  great  joy  at  having  their  daughter 
back  again,  or  their  feeling  of  awe  at 
what  had  taken  place,  caused  the 
parents  to  forget  the  child's  need,  until 
Jesus  bade  them  give  her  something  to 
eat. 


48 


"  LORD,    SAVE   ME  " 

TT  was  one  of  the  strangest  nights 
of  our  Lord's  Hfe.  In  the  evening 
He  sent  the  disciples  out  upon  the  sea 
alone.  Then  He  went  up  into  the 
mountain  and  spent  the  night  with  His 
Father.  A  storm  came  on,  and  the 
little  boat  was  wildly  tossed  in  the 
waves.  From  His  place  of  prayer 
Jesus  kept  His  eye  on  His  disciples. 
He  saw  them  distressed  in  rowing,  and 
toward  morning  He  came  to  them 
walking  on   the  water. 

Then  it  was  that  Peter  called  to 
Jesus,  "  Bid  me  come  unto  Thee  upon 
the   waters."      It   was  just   like   Peter, 

49  E 


"LORD,    SAVE    ME" 

loving  and  eager,  but  impetuous  and 
rash.  Still,  the  Master  said  "  Come," 
and  instantly  the  disciple  stepped  out 
from  the  boat.  While  he  kept  his 
eye  on  his  Master  he  walked  on  the 
water  as  if  it  were  a  solid  pavement. 
But  for  a  moment  he  saw  the  waves, 
and  at  once  began  to  sink. 

In  his  despair  he  cried,  "  Lord,  save 
me,"  and  immediately  Jesus  reached 
out  His  hand  and  lifted  him  out  of  the 
waters.  But  while  He  was  rescuing 
him,  He  said,  "  O  thou  of  little  faith, 
wherefore  didst  thou  doubt  ?  "  The 
words  show  that  Peter  need  not  have 
sunk  into  the  sea.  He  could  have 
continued  to  walk  on  the  water  as 
he  began.  Jesus  had  bidden  him  to 
come,  and  the  bidding  implied  ability 
to  do  it. 

50 


CHRIST  AND   PETER  ON   THE    LAKE   OF   GALILEE 
By  Frederick  J.  Shitlds.  Contemporary  British  School 


Copyright  Holders . 


The  Autotype  Co.,  74,  New  Oxford  Street,  London 


^'LORD,    SAVE    ME" 

Nothing  is  impossible  to  faith.  A 
good  man  said,  "  Doing  what  can't  be 
done  is  the  glory  of  Christian  living." 
Anybody  can  do  the  things  that  can 
be  done,  but  it  is  the  privilege  of  the 
Christian  to  do  what  cannot  be  done. 
It  was  a  prayer  of  Augustine's,  ''  Com- 
mand what  Thou  wilt,  then  give  what 
Thou  commandest."  It  is  only  the 
littleness  of  our  faith  that  causes  our 
achieving  to  fall  below  what  our 
Master  expects  of  us. 

Though  Peter's  peril  was  caused  by 
his  own  fear,  the  Master  did  not  dis- 
regard his  cry.  He  is  patient  with 
our  failures,  pitiful  with  our  weak- 
nesses, and  His  love  never  wearies  in 
delivering  us.  But  why  should  our 
faith  be  so  small  ?  The  Strong  One 
is  ever  beside  us.     When  we  are  doing 


"LORD,   SAVE    ME" 

what  He  has  bidden  us  to  do,  when 
we  are  in  a  place  to  which  He  has  sent 
us,  we  need  never  fear  nor  faker  ;  we 
cannot  fail  but  through  the  failure  of 
our  own  faith. 


54 


THE    CHILDREN'S    FRIEND 

TESUS  loved  the  children.  He  was 
pleased,  too,  to  have  them  come 
to  Him.  His  disciples  would  have 
kept  back  the  mothers  with  their 
babies,  but  He  said,  "  Suffer  the  little 
children  to  come  unto  Me  ;  forbid 
them  not  :  for  to  such  belongeth  the 
kingdom  of  God."  Then  He  took 
them  in  His  arms  and  blessed  them. 
Jesus  repeatedly  showed  His  love 
for  children.  Once  when  His  disciples 
asked,  ''  Who  is  greatest  in  the  king- 
dom of  heaven  ?  "  He  called  a  little 
child,  and,  taking  him  in  His  arms, 
said,   "  Whosoever  shall    humble  him- 

55 


THE    CHILDREN'S    FRIEND 

self  as  this  little  child,  the  same  is 
greatest."  Then  He  went  on  to  speak 
of  the  clearness  of  the  children  in 
Heaven's  sight.  It  is  a  great  crime. 
He  said,  to  hurt  a  child. 

He  spoke  also  of  the  honour  in 
which  children  are  held  in  heaven. 
Sometimes  they  are  despised  on  earth. 
"  It  is  only  a  child,"  men  say,  and  pass 
on.  But  there  is  one  place  where  no 
child  is  despised.  "  I  say  unto  you," 
said  Jesus,  "  that  in  heaven  their 
angels  do  always  behold  the  face  of 
My  Father  who  is  in  heaven."  The 
angels  set  to  guard  the  children  have 
peculiar  privilege  in  heaven.  They 
always  have  precedence. 

It  is  related  of  the  Jesuit  missionary, 
Francis  Xavier,  that  once  in  utter 
exhaustion  he  said  he  must  have  rest. 

56 


SUFFER  THE    LITTLE  CHILDREN    TO  COME  UNTO  ME 

By  MIU.  Otiilu  RoecUr-.tciit.  OjnUmporiiry  Hwiis  School 


Copyrifihl  HoUUn : 


Hraun,  CUment  Sr  Co.,  Paris,  and  tht  Painter 


THE    CHILDREN'S    FRIEND 

So  he  retired  to  his  tent,  charging  that 
no  matter  who  came  he  must  not  be 
disturbed.  Soon  his  servant  saw  the 
monk's  white  face  at  the  tent  door, 
and  heard  him  say,  "  I  made  a  mistake. 
If  a  Httle  child  comes,  waken  me." 
That  was  Hke  Jesus.  He  was  never 
too  weary  to  give  attention  to  a  Httle 
child. 

On  every  page  of  the  gospel  we  see 
the  figure  of  Jesus  standing,  reaching 
out  His  hands  to  the  children.  Indeed, 
there  is  no  place  in  His  kingdom  for 
any  but  children.  The  old  must 
become  children  again  before  they  can 
enter  the  heavenly  household.  A 
picture  by  Watts  represents  an  old 
man,  worn  and  feeble,  lying  back  in 
his  chair,  dying.  Round  him  lie  the 
signs  of  all  that  he  has  been  doing  in 

59 


THE    CHILDREN'S    FRIEND 

his  busy  life.  Then  above  his  head  is 
an  angel  bearing  awav  his  soul,  new- 
born through  death,  in  the  form  of  a 
baby  child.  That  is  the  way  it  must 
be  at  the  last  with  us  all.  Before  we 
can  enter  heaven  we  must  become  little 
children.  Of  such  and  of  such  only  is 
the  kingdom. 


60 


THE    TEACHER    BY    THE     SEA 

JESUS   loved  the  Sea  of  Galilee.     It 

is  only  a  small   lake,  and  yet  no 

other  body  of  water  on  the  earth  is  so 

sacred.      It    is    associated    with     many 

holy  memories  of  our  Lord's  life.     He 

wrought   many  of  His   miracles  along 

its  shores.      He    often    sailed  upon  its 

waters     with     His     disciples.      Several 

times  He  was  in  the  storms  that  are  so 

frequent  on  the  Lake,  and  by  His  word 

quieted    the    winds     and    calmed     the 

raging  waves. 

Many   of   Christ's   wonderful   words 

were   spoken   by   the   Sea.      Sometimes 

He     would      sit     in     a      fishing-boat, 

6i 


THE    TEACHER    BY    THE    SEA 

anchored  a  little  way  from  the  land, 
and  speak  to  the  people  on  the  shore. 
He  was  a  wonderful  teacher.  He  was 
the  Son  of  God.  Other  great  teachers 
declare  the  truth — Jesus  was  Himself 
the  truth. 

He  revealed  God  in  His  teaching. 
He  was  called  the  Word.  A  word 
reveals.  The  world  could  not  by  any 
searching  find  out  God,  but  Jesus 
declared  Him.  He  was  God  Himself, 
speaking  to  men.  Not  in  His  teach- 
ings only  did  He  make  God  known, 
but  also  in  His  life.  People  saw  the 
heart  of  God  in  Christ's  life  of  purity, 
gentleness,  kindness,  compassion  and 
mercy.  He  said,  "  He  that  hath  seen 
Me  hath  seen  the  Father."  Other  men 
have  taught  beautiful  lessons,  inculcated 

a  lofty  morality,  but  in  their  own  lives 

62 


THE    TEACHER    BY    THE    SEA 

have  failed  to  exemplify  their  teachings. 
Every  word  that  Jesus  spoke  was  a 
beam  of  light  shining  out  in  His  own 
character. 

Jesus  was  a  most  gracious  teacher. 
The  world  was  stained  with  sin  and 
He  brought  the  revealing  of  divine 
mercy.  Everywhere  men  were  un- 
happy, unsatisfied,  and  He  spoke  of 
rest.  There  was  sorrow  in  every  home 
and  He  came  with  comfort.  People 
were  groping  in  darkness  and  He  came 
to  lead  them  in  the  right  way. 

The  influence  of  the  teachings  of 
Christ  is  immeasurable.  Dr.  Fairbairn 
compares  the  words  of  Christ  to  a 
handful  of  spices  cast  into  the  world's 
bitter  waters  to  sweeten  them.  They 
are  also,  as  suggested  in  one  of  His 
own    seaside     parables,    a    handful     of 

65  F 


THE    TEACHER    BY    THE    SEA 

heavenly  seeds  scattered  over  dreary 
w^astes  to  change  them  into  a  garden. 
They  have  touched  all  the  w^orld's  life 
and  have  left  cleansing,  enriching  and 
uplifting  everywhere. 

There  is  silence  now  on  the  lonely 
and  deserted  shores  of  the  Sea  of 
Galilee,  where  once  the  great  Teacher 
spoke,  but  the  words  that  fell  there 
from  His  lips  have  lost  none  of  their 
graciousness,  their  life,  their  heavenly 
music.  "  Heaven  and  earth  shall  pass 
away,"  He  said,  "  but  My  words  shall 
not  pass  away." 


66 


CHRIST    AT     THE    DOOR 

pERHAPS  no  other  great  picture 
ever  painted  is  richer  in  its 
spiritual  teachings  than  Holman  Hunt's 
"  Light  of  the  World."  It  is  a  gospel 
in  itself.  The  Saviour  of  men  stands 
before  us  in  imposing  beauty,  masterful 
and  kingly  in  his  strength.  He  is  clad 
in  a  priestly  robe,  indicating  His  office 
as  Redeemer.  On  His  head  is  a 
crown,  suggesting  royalty,  but  it  is  a 
crown  of  thorns,  reminding  us  of  His 
suffering  and  sacrifice.  His  form  is 
luminous — He  is  the  Light  of  the 
world,  not  only  in  His  teaching,  but 
also  in  His  person.  His  character.     He 

67 


CHRIST    AT   THE    DOOR 

carries  in  His  hand  a  lantern,  symbol 

of  His  teachings,  which  have  gone  into 

all  the  world,  a   lamp   to   men's  feet, 

showing  them  how  to  live  and  giving 

joy  and  comfort  everywhere. 

The  attitude  of  the  Saviour  is  also 

in  accordance  with  the   representation 

of  the  Scriptures.      He  is  standing  at 

the  door  of  a  cottage,  interpreting  His 

own  word  in  the  Revelation  :  "  Behold, 

I  stand  at  the  door  and  knock."     His 

face   shows    eager  love    and  yearning. 

He   longs   to   be   admitted.      He   does 

not   wait   to   be   sought,  but  seeks   to 

save  and  to  bless,  coming  Himself  from 

heaven  to  men's  very  doors  to  be  their 

guest.      In  this  representation  we  have 

the  whole  meaning  of  the  Incarnation, 

with    its   love    and    condescension,   its 

revealings   of  tenderness  and  compas- 

68 


THE    LIGHT   OF    THE   WORLD 
By  William  Holman  Hunt.  OM  .  Contemporary  British  Sikool 


From  a  Copyright 


Photograph  by  the  Autotype  Co., 
74,  New  Oxford  Street,  London 


CHRIST    AT    THE    DOOR 

sion,  its  sacrifice.  He  is  knocking, 
and  there  is  no  indication  that  His 
knocking  is  heeded  within.     The  door 

o 

is  still  shut, — there  is  no  sign  that  it  is 
being  opened.  Yet  the  heavenly  Friend 
has  not  grown  impatient,  does  not  turn 
away.  He  stands  in  a  listening  attitude, 
and  continues  to  knock.  All  divine 
love,  grace,  and  yearning  are  expressed 
in  His  face  as  He  stands  there. 

As  we  look  closely  at  the  picture, 
we  find  another  teaching  in  it.  There 
is  no  knob  or  latch  outside  the  door. 
It  can  be  opened  only  from  within. 
We  have  this  also  in  the  words  in 
Revelation  :  ''  Behold,  I  stand  at  the 
door  and  knock  :  if  any  man  hear  My 
voice  and  open  the  door,  I  will  come 
in  to  Him."  Why  does  He  not  force 
the  door  and  enter  with  the  blessing 

71 


CHRIST    AT    THE    DOOR 

He  longs  to  bestow  ?  That  is  not  the 
way  of  love.  It  only  knocks  and 
waits.  We  can  shut  it  out  if  we  will. 
We  can  shut  out  the  mighty,  patient, 
loving  Christ,  if  we  will.  Have  we 
opened  ?     Will  we  ? 


72 


THE    LORD    IS    MY   SHEPHERD 

'T^HE  shepherd  is  a  favourite  Scrip- 
tural picture  of  the  divine  love 
and  care.  In  the  Old  Testament,  the 
twenty-third  Psalm  gathers  the  whole 
wonderful  truth  in  exquisite  lines 
which  are  dear  to  young  and  old 
wherever  the  Bible  is  known.  Then 
in  the  New  Testament,  when  our 
Lord  would  give  His  friends  the 
sweetest  revealings  of  His  heart  toward 
them,  and  tell  them  what  they  are 
to  Him  and  what  He  would  be  to 
them.  He  says,  ''  I  am  the  Good 
Shepherd." 

The  eastern  shepherd  lives  with  his 
73 


THE    LORD    IS    MY    SHEPHERD 

sheep.  If  they  are  out  in  the  storm, 
he  is  with  them.  If  they  are  exposed 
to  danger,  so  is  he.  Christ  lives  with 
His  people.  He  enters  into  closest 
relations  with  them.  In  all  their 
afflictions  He  is  afflicted.  The  storm 
that  smites  them  smites  Him. 

The  shepherd  knows  his  sheep. 
He  has  a  name  for  each  one  and  calls 
them  all  by  their  names.  Christ 
knows  each  one  of  His  friends,  has 
intimate  personal  knowledge  of  each 
one.  He  knows  the  best  in  us  and 
also  the  worst,  our  faults,  our  sins,  our 
wanderings.  Yet,  knowing  us  as  we 
are,  He  loves  us  still  and  never  wearies 
of  us. 

The  shepherd  is  most  gentle  with 
his  sheep.  He  does  not  drive  them, 
but  goes  before  them  and  leads  them. 

74 


THE   GOOD  SHEPHERD 

Hy  Frederick  J.  Shields,  CcnUmforary  Brthsh  School 


Cofyrii^hl  Holders 


The  Autotypt  Co..  74.  Neic  Oxford  Street,  London 


I 


THE    LORD    IS    MY    SHEPHERD 

When  they  need  rest  on  the  way  he 
makes  them  He  down,  and  chooses  for 
their  resting-place  not  the  dusty  road, 
but  green  pastures.  He  is  specially 
kind  to  the  lambs,  gathers  them  in  his 
arms  and  carries  them  in  his  bosom. 
All  this  is  an  exquisite  picture  of  the 
gentleness  of  our  Good  Shepherd  in 
His  care  of  His  sheep.  He  is 
thoughtful  toward  the  weak.  He 
loves  the  children  and  makes  room 
for  them  on  His  bosom.  Whatever 
the  need  is,  there  is  something  in  the 
heart  of  Christ  which  meets  its  craving 
and  supplies  its  lack. 

The  shepherd  defends  his  flock  in 
all  danger.  Often  he  has  to  risk  his 
own  safety,  even  his  life,  in  protecting 
his  sheep.  The  Good  Shepherd  giveth 
His  life  for  His  sheep. 

77 


THE    LORD    IS    MY    SHEPHERD 

"  In  His  feet  and  hands  are  wound-prints, 
And  His  side." 

Christ's  sheep  are  absolutely  safe  in 
His  keeping.  "  I  give  unto  them 
eternal  life,"  He  said  ;  "  and  they 
shall  never  perish,  and  no  one  shall 
snatch  them  out  of  My  hand."  Then 
at  last  He  v^ill  bring  His  own  all  safely 
home,  "  and  they  shall  become  one 
flock,  one  shepherd." 


THE     COMPASSION    OF 
CHRIST 

T^VERY  revealing  of  Christ  showed 
His  sympathy  with  the  weak  and 
the  wronged.  That  was  not  the  way 
of  the  world  in  His  day.  The  strong 
oppressed  the  weak.  No  provision 
was  made  for  the  feeble,  the  destitute. 
All  that  we  see  in  the  world  to-day 
of  pity,  of  sympathy,  is  the  fruit  of 
Christ's  own  life  and  teaching.  All 
hospitals,  homes,  refuges,  all  the  vast 
work  done  now  in  institutions  for  the 
blind,  the  crippled,  the  insane,  the 
aged,  the  orphaned,  is  the  continuance 
of  the  gracious  ministry  of  Jesus  Him- 

79 


THE    COMPASSION   OF  CHRIST 

self    begun     nineteen     hundred    years 
ago. 

The  heart  of  Christ  was  ever  sensi- 
tive to  human  distress.  No  cry  of 
pain  failed  to  awake  sympathy  in  His 
breast.  The  people  soon  discovered 
this.  They  were  not  used  to  it  in 
their  teachers  and  rulers.  But  they 
soon  learned  that  Jesus  really  cared  for 
them,  that  He  felt  with  them  in  their 
suffering  and  need  and  that  He  could 
help  them.  Wherever  He  went,  the 
sick  were  brought  to  Him,  the  blind, 
the  demoniac,  and  no  one  was  ever 
turned  away  unhealed. 

But  it  was  not  only  those  with 
physical  ills  that  found  sympathy  at 
the  hands  of  Jesus.  There  are  sorer 
needs   than   those    of  the   body.      An 

Arctic  explorer  was  asked  whether,  in 

80 


Sibd^faer 


"COME  UNTO  ME.  ALL  YE  THAT  LABOUR  AND  ARE 
HEAVY-LADEN  " 

by  Anion  Dietrich,  ConUmt^rary  German  School 


i^i^yr l/Cfc/  HoUUrs  ; 


The  Berlin  PhotographU  Co..  133.  New  Bond  Street.  London 

O 


THE    COMPASSION    OF   CHRIST 

their  long  experience  of  want,  he  and 
his  companions  had  suffered  greatly 
from  the  pangs  of  hunger.  He  an- 
swered that  they  forgot  their  hunger 
in  the  sense  of  abandonment,  in  the 
feeling  that  their  countrymen  were 
making  no  effort  to  relieve  them. 
The  hardest  thing  the  poor,  the  sick 
and  the  suffering  of  our  Lord's  time 
had  to  bear  was  that  nobody  cared  for 
them.  But  Jesus  cared.  He  had  pity 
on  them  because  of  their  physical 
needs  but  His  compassion  was  stirred 
chiefly  because  He  saw  them  as  sheep 
that  had  no  shepherd. 

Wherever  Jesus  appeared,  human 
distress  found  Him.  There  can  be 
no  truer  picture  of  Him  than  one 
which  represents  Him  in  the  midst  of 
needy    ones,    all     of    whom    look    to 

83 


THE    COMPASSION    OF   CHRIST 

Him  for  help.  He  was  ever  speaking 
gracious  words  which  fell  like  heavenly 
music  on  the  ears  of  those  who  heard 
them.  Take  one  of  His  words  for 
illustration  :  *'  Come  unto  Me,  all  ye 
that  labour  and  are  heavy  laden,  and 
I  will  give  you  rest."  If  Jesus  had 
never  spoken  another  word  but  that, 
He  would  have  been  the  world's 
greatest  benefactor.  What  millions 
have  heard  His  call  and  in  Him  have 
found  blessed  rest  !  For  ever  will 
that  gracious  word  continue  to  be 
spoken  to  earth's  weary  ones  and  for 
ever  will  hungry  hearts  welcome  it  as 
offering  all  they  need. 


84 


UNREQUITED     LOVE 

TESUS  came  as  the  Messiah  of  His 
people,  but  His  own  received 
Him  not.  A  few  individuals  accepted 
Him,  among  them  the  Twelve  and  a 
little  company  of  men  and  women. 
These  were  ardently  devoted  to  Him. 
They  believed  in  His  Messiahship, 
although  they  did  not  understand  what 
it  meant.  But  His  nation  accepted 
Him  not.  The  rulers  never  believed 
in  Him.  They  opposed  Him  from 
the  beginning,  and  their  opposition 
grew  in  bitterness  until  at  last  they 
had  Him  on  a  cross.  This  was  their 
return  for   His  love. 

85 


UNREQUITED    LOVE 

Christ's  reproofs  of  His  people  for 
their  rejection  were  very  severe.  Some 
of  them  were  spoken  in  the  temple, 
before  He  finally  left  it.  Some  were 
spoken  to  the  disciples  from  the 
Mount  of  Olives.  He  laid  bare  the 
hearts  of  the  teachers  and  rulers. 
They  bound  heavy  burdens  on  the 
people,  but  they  themselves  did  not 
touch  them  with  one  of  their  fingers. 
They  devoured  widows'  houses,  and 
then  made  long  prayers  that  men 
might  think  them  holy.  They  paid 
tithes  of  the  smallest  things,  but  judg- 
ment, mercy  and  faith  they  omitted 
from  their  lives.  They  were  careful 
to  keep  their  dishes  clean,  but  they 
paid  no  heed  to  their  own  inner  lives. 
It  was  with  breaking  heart  that  He 

told  them   of  the  doom  that  was  im- 

86 


CHRIST    WEEPS   OVER    THE    CITY 

By  Paul  Hippolytc  Fiaiulrin,  Contemporary  French  School 


Copyrtf^hl  Holders  : 


Copyright  ic/]4  by  llraun    Cl.ment  &  Co.,  Paris,  and  the  Painter 


UNREQUITED    LOVE 

pending.  "  O  Jerusalem,  Jerusalem, 
that  killeth  the  prophets,  and  stoneth 
them  that  are  sent  unto  her  !  how  often 
would  I  have  gathered  thy  children 
together,  even  as  a  hen  gathereth  her 
chickens  under  her  wings,  and  ye 
would  not  !  Behold,  your  house  is 
left  unto  you   desolate." 

There  are  two  marvels  here.  One 
is  that  the  rulers  could  have  rejected 
Jesus  Christ.  He  came  doing  good, 
going  about  in  a  marvellous  ministry 
of  mercy.  He  came  offering  them  all 
the  blessings  of  eternal  life.  How 
could  they  despise  and  reject  Him  ? 

The  other  marvel  is  that  Jesus  kept 
love  in  His  heart  through  all  their 
rejection.  On  Palm  Sunday,  as  He 
was    riding    into    the    city     amid     the 

acclaim  and  enthusiasm  of  the  people, 

89 


UNREQUITED    LOVE 

when  He  passed  the  crest  of  the  hill 
and  the  city  came  into  His  view.  He 
broke  into  loud  weeping  and  cried, 
"  If  thou  hadst  known,  in  this  thy 
day,  even  thou,  the  things  which  be- 
long to  thy  peace  !  but  now  they  are 
hid  from  thine  eyes."  The  love  of 
Christ  failed  not,  though  unrequited, 
though  treated  so  unjustly,  though  the 
answer  to  it  was  a  cross.  His  answer 
to  the  rejection  was  redemption. 


90 


THE    COMING    OF    THE    KING 

TT  was  only  five  days  before  the 
crucifixion.  This  day  Jesus  was 
the  people's  idol.  Was  He  Himself 
deceived  by  this  popular  outpouring 
and  acclaim  ?  Did  He  suppose  that 
at  last,  after  their  rejection  of  Him  for 
so  long,  they  were  now  going  to 
accept  Him  as  their  Messiah  ?  No  : 
He  knew  it  was  only  the  outburst  of 
a  day.  He  knew  this  was  but  the  first 
stage  of  His  last  journey  to  the  cross. 
As  He  heard  the  cries  of  the  throng, 
"  Hosanna  to  the  Son  of  David  !  " 
there  was  an  undertone  ringing  in  His 

91 


THE    COMING    OF  THE    KING 

ear,  and   the  words  of  the   undertone 
were — 

"  Ride  on,  ride  on  in  majesty, 
In  lowly  pomp  ride  on  to  die." 

There  must  have  been  a  deep 
spiritual  meaning  in  the  triumphal 
entry,  since  Jesus  Himself  planned  for 
it.  It  was  a  declaration  of  His  Mes- 
siahship.  The  prophet  had  foretold 
that  the  Messiah  should  come  in  this 
very  way.  "Behold,  thy  King  cometh 
unto  thee  :  He  is  just,  and  having 
salvation  ;  lowly,  riding  upon  an  ass." 
In  thus  claiming  that  He  was  the  per- 
son to  whom  the  prophet  referred, 
and  in  thus  bringing  about  the  fulfil- 
ment in  Himself,  Jesus  clearly  pro- 
claimed to  the  rulers  that  He  was  the 
Messiah. 

There  was   also   in   the   manner   of 
92 


6s 

II 
I 


<    ^ 

2  ^ 

W    ^ 
■"■     c 

w  ^ 

51 

w   -t 

Otf    - 
S    p 


THE    COMING    OF    THE    KING 

this  triumphal  entry  an  announcement 
of  the  character  of  His  kingdom.  If 
it  had  been  an  earthly  royalty  that  He 
was  proclaiming,  He  would  have  come 
riding  in  a  war  chariot.  The  ass  sug- 
gested lowliness  and  peace.  He  was 
the  king  of  love,  not  of  strife.  He 
came  to  fill  the  world  with  blessing, 
not  with  carnage. 

As  we  look  at  the  people  in  their 
enthusiasm  and  hear  their  rejoicings, 
we  cannot  forget  that  in  five  days  the 
Passover  throngs  cried  "Crucify  Him  ! " 
and  we  learn  how  fickle  worldly  en- 
thusiasm is.  A  picture  by  Tintoretto 
gives  the  scene  of  the  Crucifixion  after 
all  was  over.  It  is  evening.  The 
multitude  has  dispersed.  The  crown 
of  thorns  is  lying  near  by.  Then  in 
the  background  an  ass  is   nibbling  at 

95 


THE    COMING    OF    THE    KING 

some  withered  palm  leaves.  That  tells 
the  story  of  the  trans cience  of  the 
world's  honour. 

The  Palm  Sunday  pageant  was  but 
a  day's  spectacle.  Jesus  went  to  a 
cross  and  not  to  an  earthly  throne. 
But  in  its  deeper  meaning  His  entry 
into  Jerusalem  was  a  triumph  indeed. 
The  cross  was  the  way  to  His  true 
glory.  Now  He  is  our  King  and  we 
are  with  Him  in  His  triumph. 


96 


REMEMBER   JESUS    CHRIST 

/^UR  Master  craved  to  be  remem- 
bered. This  showed  His  human- 
ness — none  of  us  want  to  be  forgotten. 
We  want  to  live  in  the  hearts  of  those 
we  love.  But  this  was  not  the  only 
reason  why  Christ  wished  to  be  re- 
membered. He  had  come  to  save 
the  world.  This  was  to  be  done  by 
getting  men  personally  to  love  Him. 
This  love  must  be  strong  enough  to 
rule  our  whole  life  and  lead  us  to  the 
most  complete  devotion.  Therefore 
His  disciples  must  remember  Him, 
for  remembering  is  part  of  love. 
The  Lord's  Supper  was  intended  to 
97  H 


REMEMBER  JESUS    CHRIST 

keep  Christ  always  vividly  in  remem- 
brance. We  are  to  think  of  Him 
when  we  have  in  our  hands  the  sacred 
memorials  of  His  love,  reminding  us 
of  what  He  did  to  redeem  us.  But 
we  are  to  think  of  Him  just  as  de- 
voutly when  we  are  away  from  the 
sacramental  table,  in  the  midst  of 
worldly  tasks  and  circumstances. 

If  we  always  remember  Christ  it 
will  keep  us  faithful  in  our  loyalty. 
He  wants  us  to  be  as  true  to  Him  out 
on  the  streets,  and  when  we  are 
tempted  and  tried,  as  when  we  are  at 
His  feet  in  prayer.  In  a  battle,  there 
was  a  young  soldier,  only  a  few  days 
from  home,  who  fought  as  bravely  as 
any  old  veteran,  and  fell  on  the  front 
line.     After  the  battle  they  found   in 

his  blouse  pocket,  just  over  his  heart, 

98 


REMEMBER   JESUS    CHRIST 

the  picture  of  a  fair  girl's  face.  That 
was  the  secret  of  his  courage.  If  we 
carry  the  memory  of  Christ  in  our 
hearts  in  the  places  of  trial  and  testing, 
we  will  never  fail  Him.  The  secret  of 
all  the  noble  heroisms  of  the  Church 
has  been  passionate  love  for  Christ. 

Remembering  Christ  will  transform 
us  into  His  likeness.  Our  thoughts 
are  the  builders  that  rear  the  temple 
of  our  character.  If  we  think  of 
unclean  things  our  lives  will  become 
unclean.  If  we  think  of  earthly 
things  we  will  grow  earthly.  If  we 
think  of  Christ,  if  thoughts  of  Him  are 
in  our  mind  and  heart  continually,  we 
will  come  moment  by  moment  into 
His  beauty. 

The  highest  attainment  in  Christian 
life  is  always  to  remember  Christ,  never 


lOI 


REMEMBER  JESUS   CHRIST 

to  forget  Him,  to  keep  ever  before  us 
His  blessed  face.  Then  we  shall  never 
lose  His  peace  out  of  our  hearts. 
Then  we  shall  never  fail  Him  in  any 
duty  or  struggle.  Then  we  shall  never 
be  lonely,  for  remembering  Christ 
will  keep  us  ever  conscious  of  His 
presence. 


1 02 


THE    LESSON    OF    SERVICE 

OERVING  is  not  an  easy  lesson  to 
learn.  But  it  is  a  lesson  we  must 
learn  if  ever  we  would  become  like  our 
Master.  He  came  not  to  be  ministered 
unto,  but  to  minister.  He  served  to 
the  uttermost,  just  as  He  loved  to  the 
uttermost.  Anything  that  needed  to 
be  done  for  another  He  did  as  natu- 
rally and  as  simply  as  He  breathed. 
He  loved  people,  and  was  interested 
in  them  and  was  ready  always  to  be 
helpful  to  them.  Then  it  never  mat- 
tered  what   the    service   was,   whether 

it  was  the  saving  of  a  soul,  the  curing 

103 


THE    LESSON    OF    SERVICE 

of  a  grievous  sickness,  or  the  giving  of 
a  cup  of  water — He  did  the  least  as 
graciously  and  as  divinely  as  the 
greatest. 

The  washing  of  feet  was  the  lowliest 
service  any  man  could  do  for  another. 
It  was  the  work  of  the  lowliest  slave. 
Yet  Jesus  without  hesitation  did  this 
service  for  His  own  disciples.  Thus 
He  taught  them  that  nothing  any  one 
may  ever  need  to  have  done  by  another 
is  unlit  for  the  whitest  hands.  We 
begin  to  be  like  Christ  only  when  we 
begin  to  love  others  enough  to  serve 
them  without  asking  whether  the  ser- 
vice is  something  that  we  may  do 
without  the  loss  of  dignity. 

"  One  day  a  stranger  entered  an 
artist's    studio    in    Milan.      The   artist 

was    busy    within.     He    was    engaged 

104 


CHRIST   WASHING   PETER'S  FEET 
lt\  Ford  Uadox  Hrcuit,  lintish  School 


From  a  Photograph  by 


W.  A.  Mansell  &  Co..  London 


THE    LESSON    OF    SERVICE 

upon  a  copy  of  one  of  the  great 
masters.  He  was  working  at  the  head 
of  a  Christ  and  appeared  to  take  no 
notice  of  the  stranger.  At  last  he 
broke  the  silence,  and  turned  upon 
the  man  with  feverish  impatience, 
'  Speak  to  me,  sir,  is  it  like — is  it  ever 
so  little  like  ? '  " 

There  is  no  surer  test  of  the 
genuineness  of  Christian  life  than  in 
this  matter  of  serving  others.  Is  it 
like — is  it  ever  so  little  like  the 
Master's  serving  ?  We  are  too  care- 
ful of  our  dignity.  When  we  see  the 
Son  of  God  washing  His  disciples' 
feet,  we  should  be  ashamed  ever  to 
ask  whether  anything  another  may 
need  to  have  done  is  too  menial  for 
us  to  do.  A  king  may  do  the  low- 
liest  kindness   to   the  poorest  peasant 

107 


THE    LESSON    OF    SERVICE 

in  his  realm,  and  his  honour  will  only 
be  enhanced  by  it. 

**0  blessed  Jesus,  when  I  see  Thee  bending, 
Girt  as  a  servant  at  Thy  servants'  feet, 
Love,  lowliness,  might,  in  zeal  all  blending, 
To  wash  their  dust  away  and  make  them  meet 
To  share  Thy  feast, — I  know  not  to  adore, 
Whether  Thy  humbleness  or  glory  more." 


1 08 

i 


THE    REFUGE    IN    SORROW 

TT7HERE  to  go  in  sorrow  is  one 
of  life's  great  questions.  For 
there  are  none  to  whom  sorrow  does 
not  come  at  some  time.  The  Master, 
whose  footprints  are  on  all  life's  paths, 
shows  us  the  way  to  the  refuge  in  the 
time  of  trouble.  He  found  it  in 
prayer.  "  Being  in  an  agony  He 
prayed." 

We  may  listen  at  the  gate  of  the 
Garden  and  learn  how  our  Master 
prayed.  He  was  facing  a  great  sor- 
row and  He  pleaded  with  His  Father 
that  it  might  not  come  to  Him.      We 

have     a     right,    therefore,    to    ask     in 

109 


THE    REFUGE    IN    SORROW 

prayer  that  the  trouble  which  seems 
imminent  may  pass,  or  that  we  may 
be  relieved  of  the  bitter  anguish  we 
are  enduring.  God  will  never  blame 
us  for  such  pleading. 

There  was  another  element,  how- 
ever, in  our  Lord's  praying.  In  His 
most  intense  pleading  for  the  passing 
of  His  sorrow  He  still  referred  all  to 
His  Father.  "  Nevertheless,  not  as 
I  will,  but  as  Thou  wilt."  There  is 
no  true  prayer  which  is  not  modelled 
after  this  pattern.  We  do  not  know 
what  is  best.  We  do  not  know  what 
is  in  the  sorrow  for  us,  for  others,  or 
for  the  divine  glory,  nor  what  would 
be  lost  if  we  failed  to  endure  it.  We 
must  leave  all  with  our  Father,  saying, 
"As  Thou  wilt." 

Then  the  Master  found  the  comfort 
no 


Copyright  HoUUn 


CHRIST    AT    GETHSEMANE 
By  J.  M.  HcinrUh  Hofmann,  Contemporary  German  School 

The  Berlin  Photographic  Co.,  133.  ^'w  Bond  Street,  London 


THE    REFUGE    IN    SORROW 

which    He    sought.      His    prayer    was 

answered.      The    cup    did    not     pass. 

The    bitterness    was    not    lessened    in 

the    smallest    degree.      So    far    as    we 

know,   not   a    single  cruel  element  in 

the  terrible  experience  was  eliminated 

or     even     mitigated     because     of    the 

prayer    in    the    Garden.      The   answer 

came    in     another    way.      The     Holy 

Sufferer    was    strengthened    to    accept 

the   sorrow  and  endure  it.      And  was 

not  that  an  answer  ?      Was   it  not   a 

better    answer     than     if    the    dreadful 

anguish   had   been  diminished  ?     The 

pleading  grew  less  intense  as  He  went 

back  again  and  again  into  the  depths 

of   the   Garden,  and    at   the   end    the 

struggle   was   over,    victory    had    been 

won  and   He  was  at  peace. 

Prayer    is   always    answered.      It    is 
113  I 


THE    REFUGE    IN    SORROW 

answered  either  directly  in  the  giving 
to  us  of  what  we  ask,  or  in  ourselves, 
in  enabling  us  to  accept  the  will  of 
God  and  rejoice.  We  shall  never 
seek  this  refuge  in  vain.  We  shall 
always  find  comfort  there,  and  peace, 
and  always  God's  angel  will  meet  us 
to  strengthen  us. 


114 


"COULD    YE    NOT    WATCH 
ONE    HOUR?" 

/^NE  of  the  saddest  elements  in 
the  Gethsemane  experience  was 
our  Lord's  disappointment  in  His 
disciples.  He  chose  the  three  best 
loved  of  them  all  and  asked  them  to 
be  near  Him  during  His  great  agony. 
He  hoped  to  get  strength  from  their 
sympathy.  While  He  went  through 
His  mysterious  struggle  He  supposed 
that  they  were  waking  near  by.  But 
when  He  returned  to  them  to  be 
helped  by  their  love,  they  were  asleep. 
This     happened     three     times.        His 

115 


"COULD    YE    NOT 

friends    failed   Him    in    His    hour    of 
sorest  need. 

One  of  the  legends  of  the  Brittany 
peasants  tells  how  the  robin  got  his 
red  breast.  The  day  of  the  Cruci- 
fixion, as  Jesus  was  being  led  out  to 
Calvary,  a  bird,  pitying  Him  as  He 
went  on  His  way  of  sorrows,  flew 
down  and  plucked  one  thorn  from  the 
crown  of  thorns  He  was  wearing. 
The  blood  spurted  from  the  wound 
and  splashed  the  bird's  breast.  Ever 
since,  the  peasants  say,  the  robin  has 
had  a  spot  of  red  upon  its  breast, 
in  remembrance  of  its  pity  for  the 
Master  that  day  of  sorrows. 

The  disciples  had  it  in  their  power 

that  night,  not  literally  to  pluck  thorns 

from     their     Master's     brow,     but     to 

strengthen    Him     by    their     sympathy 

ii6 


0} 

z  -s- 

<!  -S 

S  s 

w  ^ 

w  - 

O  = 


WATCH    ONE    HOUR?" 

and  to  make  His  victory  a  little  easier. 
But  they  missed  their  opportunity, 
and  made  the  Gethsemane  experience 
harder  for  Him. 

There  was  something  inexpressibly 
sad  in  our  Lord's  question,  "  What, 
could  ye  not  watch  with  Me  one 
hour  ? "  It  showed  the  bitterness  of 
His  disappointment.  His  request  of 
them  was  a  most  reasonable  one — it 
was  only  for  one  hour  that  He  had 
asked  them  to  watch.  An  hour  is 
not  long  to  keep  awake.  Then  it 
was  a  service  of  love  that  He  requested 
of  them,  and  love  should  count  noth- 
ing hard,  especially  love  for  such  a 
Friend  as  Jesus  was   to  His  disciples. 

Then    it   was    of   Peter,  personally, 

that  Jesus  asked   the  question.      Peter 

had     professed     undying     loyalty    and 

119 


"COULD    YE    NOT  WATCH?" 

devotion  but  an  hour  before.  Others 
might  be  untrue  to  Jesus,  but  he  could 
not  be.  Yet  Peter  was  one  of  those 
who  wearied  in  watching  before  one 
little  hour  had  passed. 

The  Master  no  longer  needs  us  to 
watch  with  Him  personally  in  hours 
of  anguish,  but  He  is  represented  by 
His  cause  and  by  His  people,  and 
there  is  continual  call  for  the  watching 
of  love  and  sympathy.  Let  us  not 
disappoint  our  Master. 


1 20 


WHY    DID    PETER    FAIL? 

/^NE  of  the  saddest  disappoint- 
ments of  the  story  of  our  Lord's 
last  days  is  Peter's  denial  of  his  Master. 
If  the  gospel  narrative  were  fiction  this 
would  not  be  in  it.  We  would  have 
said  it  was  impossible.  Peter  loved 
Jesus  deeply  and  truly.  He  had 
received  the  name  of  the  rock.  For 
three  years  he  had  been  under  the 
teaching  and  in  the  constant  com- 
panionship of  Jesus.  He  had  special 
honour  and  favour  in  the  apostle-family. 
His  name  stands  always  first  in  the 
list,  and  he  was  one  of  the  three  of  the 
Master's   closest   personal    friends.      It 

121 


WHY   DID    PETER    FAIL? 

was  he  who  had  made  the  great  con- 
fession which  won  from  Jesus  such 
commendation. 

We  would  have  said  that  he  was  the 
last  of  the  apostles  who  would  deny  his 
Lord.  Yet,  in  spite  of  all,  this  bravest, 
most  favoured  apostle,  this  man  of 
rock,  fell  most  ignominiously,  fell,  too, 
at  a  time  when  friendship  to  his  Master 
ought  to  have  made  him  truest  and 
most  loyal. 

Why  did  he  fail  ?  His  self-con- 
fidence made  him  weak.  He  slept  in 
the  Garden  when  he  ought  to  have 
been  watching.  Then  he  drew  his 
sword  to  defend  his  Master.  His  next 
mistake  was  in  following  Jesus  afar  off. 
His  last  error  was  in  joining  the  com- 
pany by  the  fire  when  he  came  in. 
The  denial  was  already  more  than  half 

122 


Copyright  Holden  i 


PETER'S  DENIAL 
By  Graf  HarrOih.  Omkmporary  German  School 

The  IScrlin  Photographic  Co.,  133.  New  Bond  Street,  London 


WHY    DID    PETER    FAIL? 

made  when  he  sat  down  among  the 
officers,  trying  to  appear  as  one  of 
them.  It  was  easy  then,  when  the 
maid  twitted  him  with  being  of  the 
GaHlean's  party,  to  deny  it. 

Against  the  pitifiil  weakness  and 
cowardHness  of  Peter  shine  the  faith- 
fulness and  graciousness  of  the  Master. 
He  heard  it  all — the  denial  thrice 
repeated,  and  the  oaths  and  curses 
— He  heard  it  all,  but  loved  on.  It 
was  this  marvellous  forbearance  that 
saved  Peter.  It  was  the  Master's  look 
that  saved  him. 

"  I  think  the  look  of  Christ  might  seem  to  say, — 
'  Thou,  Peter  !   art  thou  then  a  common  stone 
Which   I   at  last  must  break  My  heart  upon, 
For  all  God's  charge  to  His  high  angels  may 
Guard   My  foot  better  ?     Did   I   yesterday 
Wash  thy  feet,  My  beloved,  that  they  should  run 
Quick  to  deny  Me  'neath  the   morning  sun  ? 
And  do  thy  kisses  like  the  rest  betray  ? 

125 


WHY    DID    PETER    FAIL? 

The  cock  crows  coldly.     Go  and  manifest 
A  late  contrition,  but  no  bootless  fear  ! 
For  when  thy  final  need  is  dreariest, 
Thou  shalt  not  be  denied,  as  I  am  here. 
My  voice,  to  God  and  angels,  shall  attest 
Because  I  know  this  man,  let  him  be  clear.'  " 


126 


"WHAT     SHALL    I     DO    WITH 
JESUS  ? " 

"piLATE'S  was  a  most  unenviable 
distinction.  No  doubt  he  felt 
honoured  when  he  was  made  pro- 
curator of  Judea.  But  the  honour 
brought  him  a  responsibility  which 
left  him  weighed  and  found  wanting. 
Pilate  did  not  know  when  he  was 
roused  so  early  that  April  morning 
that  that  Friday  was  doomsday  for 
him.  He  did  not  know  when  he  was 
going  through  the  various  stages  of 
the  trial  of  Jesus,  that  he  was  making 
such  a  record  of  infamy  for   himself. 

He     would    better    a    thousand    times 

127 


"WHAT    SHALL    I    DO 

have  missed  the  honour  of  being  the 
governor  of  Judea  and  thus  have 
escaped  the  making  of  the  terrible 
mistake  he  made  that  day. 

Yet  Pilate  need  not  have  failed  so 
terribly.  If  he  had  been  simply  just, 
and  had  stood  like  a  rock  for  w^hat 
was  right,  the  day  would  have  become 
one  of  undying  honour,  and  not  one 
of  everlasting  obloquy  for  him.  But 
the  question  wherewith  Pilate  met 
every  crisis  was  not,  "What  is  right?" 
but,  "What  will  advance  my  interest?" 
He  knew  that  Jesus  was  guilty  of  no 
wrong, — he  confessed  that  he  found 
no  fault  in  Him.  He  knew  the  motive 
of  the  rulers — that  for  envy  they  had 
delivered  Him. 

But    instead   of  directly   acquitting 

Him,   he    sought  in  indirect  ways  to 

128 


O   =5 


..eg 

a:  5 

-to 


WITH   JESUS  ?  " 

secure  His  release.  He  sent  Him  to 
Herod,  thinking  thus  to  get  clear  of  the 
responsibility  of  meeting  the  question 
himself.  This  failing,  he  begged  the 
rulers  to  accept  Jesus  as  the  one  pri- 
soner to  be  set  free  at  that  passover. 
But  they  refused,  choosing  Barabbas. 
At  this  point  it  was  that  Pilate,  per- 
plexed and  beaten,  asked,  ''  What  then 
shall  I  do  with  Jesus  ? "  Instantly 
came  the  answer,  "  Crucify  Him." 
Still  Pilate  pleaded,  awed  by  some- 
thing in  the  prisoner  before  him,  and 
dreading  to  send  Him  to  the  cross. 
But  the  only  answer  he  got  was,  "Free 
us  Barabbas  !  Crucify  Jesus  !  "  He 
still  struggled  hopelessly  to  keep  Jesus 
from  death,  but  he  had  gone  too  far  in 
his  temporising.  So  he  yielded.  He 
delivered    the   prisoner    to    their   will. 


"  WHAT    SHALL    I    DO  ?  " 

Then  taking  water,  he  washed  his 
hands  before  the  people,  saying  he 
was  innocent  of  the  blood  of  the  Just 
Man  he  was  giving  up  to  crucifixion. 

Pilate  lost  his  opportunity.  He  is 
held  up  before  the  world  as  a  judge 
who  knew  the  innocence  of  the  Man 
who  stood  before  him,  yet  sent  Him 
to  a  cross.  An  imaginative  writer, 
describing  the  life  in  the  world  of 
darkness,  represents  Pilate  as  washing 
his  hands  for  ever,  and  then  looking 
at  them  to  find  them  still  and  for  ever 
stained.     They  will  never  come  clean. 


132 


"  BEHOLD   THE    MAN  " 

TT  was  Pilate's  last  appeal.  He 
hoped  that  the  spectacle  of  Jesus 
wearing  the  crown  of  thorns  and  the 
purple  robe  would  so  move  the  people 
to  pity  that  they  would  cry  out  for 
His  release.  But  the  appeal  was  in 
vain. 

While  the  Holy  Sufferer  stands 
before  us,  we  may  think  of  Him  as 
He  appeared  that  moment.  "  Behold 
the  man  !  "  Recall  His  life.  It  had 
been  beautiful  in  its  sinlessness  and  in 
its  revealings  of  God.  On  His  trial 
His  enemies  had  sought  to  find  some 
flaw     in    Him,    but    they    could    find 

^33 


"BEHOLD    THE    MAN" 

nothing.  Pilate  said,  "  I  bring  Him 
forth  to  you,  that  ye  may  know  that 
I  find  no  fault  in  Him."  Witnesses 
could  have  been  gathered  from  all  over 
the  land  to  testify  to  His  kindness.  His 
thoughtfulness,  His  mercy.  His  love, 
but  not  one  could  they  find  anywhere 
to  testify  to  any  wrong  He  had  ever 
done,  any  injustice,  any  injury.  He 
had  been  the  Friend  of  the  poor,  the 
Comforter  of  sorrow,  the  Helper  of 
the  weak. 

As  He  stands  before  us  now.  He 
appears  as  the  man  of  sorrows.  His 
back  has  been  torn  by  the  cruel 
scourge.  A  crown  of  thorns  is  about 
His  brow,  as  if  He  were  a  king.  And 
truly  He  was  a  king,  and  He  never  was 
more  kingly  than  in  that  hour. 

He  was  kingly  in  His  bearing.  He 
134 


I 


t^ 

r             V 

O  5 

2  ^ 

O  =: 

O  -2 

W  I 


I 

o 

a: 

I 


"BEHOLD    THE    MAN" 

made  no  plea  in  His  own  defence. 
He  was  silent  to  all  insults,  and 
when  He  spoke  it  was  with  serene 
composure.  Never  was  man  more 
kingly. 

He  was  kingly,  too,  in  His  love. 
There  had  not  been  a  shade  of  bitter- 
ness in  His  heart  under  all  the  cruelties 
and  sufferings  He  had  endured.  He 
had  come  to  show  this  world  the  love 
of  God,  and  His  gentleness  had  not 
once  failed  in  all  those  terrible  hours. 
He  set  in  motion  in  this  world's  life 
tides  of  love  which  have  been  flowing 
over  all  lands,  slowly  changing  cruelty 
into  kindness,  bitterness  into  sweetness 
and  making  all  things  new. 

He  was  kingly  also  in  His  suffering. 
His  was  a  crown  of  sorrow,  for  He  was 
the   Redeemer  of  the  world.      Thorns 

137 


"BEHOLD    THE    MAN" 

were  the  fruit  of  sin,  and  He  took  our 
curse  upon  Him  that  we  might  receive 
a  crown  of  Ufe.  He  was  subjected  to 
shame  in  the  eyes  of  the  world  that  we 
might  be  welcomed  to  glory.  Never 
was  He  more  kingly  than  He  was  that 
Good  Friday. 


138 


THE    GREAT    MYSTERY    OF 
LOVE 

'npHE  cross  was  the  culmination  of 
love's  revealing.  The  life  of 
Christ  was  all  love.  He  was  the  love 
of  God  come  down  to  earth,  inter- 
preted in  a  human  life,  so  that  all 
could  understand  it.  At  last,  on  the 
cross,  this  love  found  its  highest 
expression  when  the  Son  of  God 
gave  Himself  up  to  redeem  the 
world. 

We  can  never  understand  the  mys- 
tery of  this  love.  We  have  hints  of 
it,    but    hints    only,    in    some    of  the 

139 


THE    GREAT    MYSTERY 

higher  expressions  of  human  love.  The 
immeasurable  distance  between  the 
divine  Redeemer  and  those  He  died 
to  redeem,  makes  the  love  for  ever 
inexplicable.  Some  artists  have  sug- 
gested this  mystery  in  their  pictures 
of  the  Crucifixion.  One  has  left 
nearly  everything  to  the  thought  of 
the  beholder.  Where  the  form  of  the 
Saviour  is  there  is  only  darkness,  v^ith 
some  traces,  little  more  than  sugges- 
tions, of  light,  v^hich,  as  you  study  the 
picture  closely,  reveal  in  dim,  shadovs^y 
outline,  the  form  of  a  Man  on  a  cross. 
The  face  appears  in  merest  outline, 
and  a  ray  of  light  shows  the  figure 
of  one  kneeling  at  the  foot  of  the 
cross.  The  picture  suggests  two 
mysteries — the  mystery  of  the  love  of 

Christ  in  its  great  sacrifice,  and  then 

140 


Copyright  Holden  : 


THE    CRUCIFIXION 

By  Lion  Bonnai,  Contemf'orary  French  School 

Uon  Bonnat,  and  Brtiitii,  CUment  &  Co..  Paris 


OF    LOVE 

the  mystery  of  redemption  by  which 
the  blessing  of  that  sacrifice  is  com- 
municated to  penitent  human  souls 
that  bow  at  the  cross. 

The  cross  is  now  the  centre  of  the 
world's  hopes.  We  cannot  understand 
the  mystery,  but  we  are  sure  of  the 
fact  that  there  is  redemption  in  the 
blood  of  Christ.  Saint  Paul  puts 
the  truth  in  a  few  great  luminous 
words  in  one  of  his  letters — "  The  Son 
of  God,  who  loved  me,  and  gave 
Himself  up  for  me."  This  concen- 
trating of  the  love  of  Christ  and  its 
great  sacrifice  upon  himself,  as  if  he 
had  been  the  only  one  Christ  loved 
and  for  whom  He  gave  Himself  up, 
shows  us  that  we  are  all  individualised 
in  the  heart  of  the  Redeemer  and  in 
the  meaning  of  His  work.      Each  one 

143 


GREAT    MYSTERY    OF    LOVE 

of  us  may  say,   "  He   loved   me,  and 
gave  Himself  up  for  me." 

"  Under  an  eastern  sky, 
Amid  a  rabble  cry, 
A  man  went  forth  to  die — 
For  me. 

Thorn-crowned  His  blessed  head, 
Blood-stained  His  every  tread, 
Cross-laden,  on  He  sped — 
For  me." 


144 


LAST    AT    THE    CROSS,     FIRST 
AT    THE    GRAVE 

A/TARY  MAGDALENE'S  devotion 
to  Christ  is  one  of  the  most 
beautiful  stories  in  the  Gospels.  Tra- 
dition has  branded  her  as  a  great 
sinner,  but  there  is  really  nothing  in 
the  New  Testament  to  prove  that  the 
tradition  is  true.  It  is  said  that  Jesus 
had  cast  seven  demons  out  of  her, 
but  demoniacal  possession  is  not 
identified  in  the  Gospels  with  immor- 
ality. It  is  enough  to  know  of  Mary 
that  the  love  of  Christ  saved  her. 
When    she    saw    Him    in    His    divine 

purity  and  when  His   holy  eye   looked 

145  L 


LAST   AT    THE    CROSS, 

into  her  heart,  her  old  self  perished 
and  a  new  woman,  without  spot,  arose 
in  her. 

A  wonderful  devotion  to  her  new 
Master  now  possessed  her.  A  great 
Moravian  missionary  used  to  say,  re- 
ferring to  Christ,  "  I  have  only  one 
passion,  and  that  is  He."  So  it  was 
with  Mary  of  Magdala.  Whatever 
form  of  evil  it  was  that  had  absorbed 
her  life  before  Jesus  found  her,  she 
was  now  utterly  possessed,  body, 
mind  and  soul,  by  her  passion  for 
Christ.  In  all  the  New  Testament 
there  is  no  finer  example  of  the  con- 
secration of  a  life  to  Christ. 

During  the  crucifixion,  Mary  was 
among  the  holy  women  who  stood 
beholding  in  love's  marvellous  devo- 
tion.    Perhaps   she  was  present   when 

146 


MARY  MAGDALENE    AT    THE    FOOT   OF    THE    CROSS 
By  Jula  Jouph  Ltfebvre,  Contemporary  French  School 


Copyright  HoUUrs : 


Copyright,  1903   by  Braun,  CUment  Sr  Co.,  Paris 


♦ 


FIRST    AT    THE    GRAVE 

Joseph  and  Nicodemus  took  down  the 

body  of  Jesus  from   the  cross,  washed 

it,  wrapped  it  in  spices,  and  laid  it  to 

rest    in  the  clean,   new  tomb,   cut    in 

the    rock.      When    the    other    friends 

went  away  from  the  garden  the  record 

shows    us    this    picture    of  devotion  : 

"  Mary    Magdalene    was    there,   .   .   . 

sitting    over    against    the    sepulchre." 

Her    devotion    was     matchless     in     its 

depth  and  in  its  intensity. 

What    was    its   secret  ?      It   was   in 

her   mighty   love.      But  why   did    she 

love    so  much  ?      Why  did    her    holy 

passion   for  her  Master  so   far  exceed 

that  of  His  other   friends   who    loved 

Him    too    with    unquestioned    loyalty 

and  devotion  ?       It  was    because    she 

had  such  a  distinct  realisation  of  what 

she     owed    to    Him.      Many     people 

149 


FIRST    AT    THE    GRAVE 

know  they  have  been  redeemed,  but 
seem  to  have  only  the  faintest  con- 
ception of  the  meaning  of  their  re- 
demption. Mary  understood  with 
unusual  clearness  what  Christ  had 
done  for  her,  and  her  whole  soul 
went  out  to  Him  in  adoring  love. 

Mary's  devotion  to  Christ  con- 
tinued to  show  itself  after  His  death. 
She  had  no  expectation  that  He  would 
rise  again,  but  she  sought  to  honour 
His  dead  body.  Her  love  was  re- 
warded by  being  the  first  to  whom 
He  showed  Himself  alive  and  the 
first  to  carry  the  news  of  the  resurrec- 
tion to  the  disciples. 


150 


THE    WOMEN    FRIENDS   OF 
JESUS 

VI70MAN'S  devotion  and  fidelity 
shine  out  very  brightly  in  the 
Gospel  story.  There  is  no  mention 
of  any  woman  ever  showing  unkind- 
ness  to  Jesus.  A  man  denied  Him, 
a  man  betrayed  Him,  men  plotted  to 
destroy  Him  and  at  last  put  Him  on 
the  cross.  But  no  woman  had  any 
part  in  wronging  Him. 

There  were  certain  women  who  had 
followed  Jesus  from  Galilee,  minis- 
tering to  Him.  No  doubt  they  were 
women  whom  He  had  helped  in  some 
way,  and  in  response  to  His  kindness 

151 


THE    WOMEN    FRIENDS 

they  devoted  themselves  thenceforward 
to  personal  service  to  Him.  The  love 
of  these  women  appears  conspicuously 
after  His  death.  As  the  morning  of 
the  first  day  of  the  week  began  to 
dawn,  they  were  eagerly  on  their  way 
to  the  tomb  of  their  Friend.  Their 
purpose  was  to  honour  His  body. 
The  burial  on  Friday  afternoon  had 
been  hurried,  as  the  hour  was  late, 
and  they  wished  now  to  lay  fragrant 
spices  in  His  grave.  As  they  drew 
near  in  the  dim  dawn  and  came  in 
sight  of  the  tomb,  they  saw  that  the 
stone  had  been  rolled  away.  They 
pressed  on,  and,  looking  in,  saw  that 
the  body  was  not  there.  This  greatly 
perplexed  them.  As  they  stood  there, 
however,  they  saw  a  vision  of  angels 

in    dazzling    garments.       They    were 

152 


THE    HOLY    WOMEN    AT   THE    TOMB 

liy  William  Adoiphe  Bouguereau.  French  School 
Copyright  Holdtrs :  Tlu  Painter,  and  liraun,  CUment  Sr  Co^  Parii 


OF   JESUS 

awed  by  the  vision,  but  as  they  bowed 
in  reverence  the  angels  spoke  to  them 
words  of  assurance  and  comfort, 
"  Why  seek  ye  the  living  among  the 
dead  ?     He  is  not  here,  but  is  risen." 

One  of  the  legends  tells  of  the  dis- 
covery of  the  crown  of  thorns  and  of 
how  it  lay  on  the  altar  through 
Passion  Week.  The  people  came 
and  looked  at  it  and  wept,  as  they 
remembered  the  sufferings  of  Jesus. 
Then  very  early  on  Easter  morning 
the  priest  entered  to  remove  the 
sacred  relic,  that  the  people's  hearts 
might  not  be  saddened  by  it  on  the 
glad  Easter  day.  When  he  opened 
the  door  he  found  the  place  filled 
with  a  wondrous  fragrance.  He  did 
not  understand  it,  but  as  he  moved 
toward  the  altar  the  light  was  breaking 

155 


WOMEN    FRIENDS    OF   JESUS 

through  an  eastern  window,  and  as 
it  fell  on  the  crown  of  thorns  he  saw 
that  it  had  been  changed  to  a  crown 
of  roses,  every  thorn  a  rose.  The 
legend  teaches  the  true  Easter  lesson. 
At  the  broken  grave  of  Christ  sorrow 
is  turned  to  joy,  death  to  life,  dark- 
ness to  light,  despair  to  hope. 


156 


THE    WALK    TO    EMMAUS 

TT  was  a  wonderful  walk  the  two 
friends  took  that  afternoon.  The 
Man  who  joined  them  seemed  only  a 
common  stranger.  He  had  a  kindly 
manner,  and  the  three  were  soon 
talking  familiarly.  He  opened  to 
them  the  meaning  of  great  Scripture 
words,  saying  many  things  His  com- 
panions could  never  forget.  They 
were  so  pleased  with  His  company 
that  when  they  reached  the  end  of 
their  journey  they  urged  Him  to 
become  their  guest,  and  he  con- 
sented. 

It  was  at  their  evening  meal  together 
157 


THE    WALK    TO    EMMAUS 

that  the  stranger  revealed  His  identity. 
Perhaps,  as  He  took  the  bread  and  was 
in  the  act  of  breaking  it,  they  saw  His 
hands  with  the  print  of  the  nails  in 
them.  We  do  not  know  just  how  it 
came  ;  we  know  only  that  it  was  while 
they  were  at  their  plain,  simple  evening 
meal  that  "  their  eyes  were  opened,  and 
they  knew  Him." 

It  is  in  life's  common  experiences 
that  Christ  usually  reveals  Himself  to 
us.  One  of  His  disciples  asked  Him 
to  show  them  the  Father.  He  desired 
some  remarkable  revealing,  a  great 
glory,  like  the  Sinai  splendour.  Jesus 
said,  "  Have  I  been  with  you  these 
three  years,  and  have  you  never  known 
Me  ?  I  have  been  showing  you  the 
Father  all  the  while."      He  had  been 

doing  this   in  sweet,  gentle  living,   in 

158 


CO  di 

<  = 

a  "^ 
w  I' 

'I 

S  I" 


THE    WALK    TO    EMMAUS 

patience,  in  kindness,  in  thoughtfulness, 
in  purity  and  simplicity  of  life.  The 
disciples  had  seen  all  these  beautiful 
things  in  their  Master,  day  after  day, 
but  they  had  not  dreamed  that  these 
were  divine  revealings,  that  in  them 
He  was  revealing  God. 

It  is  the  same  now.  Some  people 
say  that  if  Christ  would  work  miracles, 
if  He  would  do  startling  things,  they 
would  believe  on  Him.  Men  are 
looking  too  far  away  to  find  Christ. 
In  his  quest  for  the  Holy  Grail  the 
knight  wandered  over  all  lands  in  vain, 
finding  it  at  last,  when  he  came  back, 
by  his  own  gate.  We  do  not  need  to 
go  far  away  to  find  opportunities  to 
serve  Christ ;  He  is  waiting  continually 
in  the  poor  who  need  us,  in  the  sick 
who  long  for  our  visits,  in  the  lonely 

l6l  M 


THE    WALK    TO    EMMAUS 

who  crave  friendship,  in  the  tempted 
who  cry  out  for  a  hand  to  help  them 
stand.  In  doing  kindnesses  to  His 
Httle  ones  we  will  show  our  love  for 
Him  and  He  will  reveal  Himself  to  us 
in  joy  and  peace. 


162 


THE     PATHOS    OF    DIVINE 
LOVE 

XTOTHING  is  more  wonderful  in 
the  Good  Shepherd  than  His 
care  for  His  lost  sheep.  It  might 
be  worth  while,  we  would  say,  for 
Him  to  care  for  a  whole  flock  that 
wanders  away  and  is  lost — a  flock  is 
valuable.  But  it  is  the  loss  of  only 
one  sheep  that  makes  its  appeal  to  the 
heart  of  the  Good  Shepherd.  Does 
He  really  miss  one  among  so  many  ? 
Does  Christ  really  care  when  some- 
where on  the  earth  one  human  soul 
is  wandering  in  the  dark  ways  of  sin  ? 
Did   any    mother   ever    have    so   many 

children  that  if  one  of  them  wandered 

163 


THE    PATHOS    OF 

from  home  she  would  not  miss  it  ?  It 
would  not  be  love  in  the  Good  Shep- 
herd if  He  did  not  miss  the  one  that 
strayed  from  His  fold. 

The  seeking  of  the  sheep  by  the 
shepherd  is  a  wonderful  illustration  of 
the  divine  love.  He  leaves  the  ninety 
and  nine  that  are  safe  and  goes  away 
in  search  of  the  one  poor,  silly  sheep 
that  has  left  the  shelter  of  the  fold. 
The  story  suggests  pain  and  dis- 
comfort, danger  and  suffering,  as 
the  shepherd  goes  to  the  desert  and 
treads  on  over  rough  ways,  up  steep 
mountains,  through  dark  gorges, 
looking  for  His  sheep.  His  heart 
is  in  His  quest.  He  does  not  weary 
in  it. 

"  But  none  of  the  ransomed  ever  knew 
How  deep  were  the  waters  crossed  ; 
164 


C«pyright  HoUUrs  : 


THE    LOST    SHEEP 
By  A.  V.  Soord,  Ccntempcrar)'  Briliih  School 

Tht  Autofypt  Co.,  74,  tiew  Oxford  Sired,  London 


DIVINE    LOVE 

Nor    how    dark    was    the    night    that    the    Lord 
passed  through, 
Ere  He  found  His  sheep  that  was  lost. 

'  Lord,    whence    are     those    blood-drops    all    the 
way, 

That  mark  out  the  mountain's  track  ?  ' 
*  They  were   shed    for  one  who  had  gone  astray 

Ere   the  Shepherd  could  bring  him  back.'  " 

All  this  is  wonderfully  pathetic  as 
the  story  of  an  oriental  shepherd  seek- 
ing his  straying  sheep.  But  that  is  not 
all  that  is  in  the  story.  The  Master 
would  not  have  recited  the  beautiful 
story  merely  to  tell  the  people  about 
a  common  shepherd.  It  would  not 
have  been  put  into  the  Gospels 
among  heavenly  revealings  if  that 
were  all.  Christ  Himself  is  the  Good 
Shepherd,  and  what  He  tells  us  in  His 
parable  is  how  He  seeks  lost  human 
souls.      No  one  ever  strays  away  from 

167 


PATHOS    OF    DIVINE    LOVE 


God  and  is  allowed  to  go  on  unmissed, 
unsought.  No  one  on  the  earth  may 
care,  and  no  one  may  seek  to  bring 
back  and  save  the  imperilled  one. 
But    always    Christ    cares    and    seeks  M 


until  He  finds. 


i68 


THE   KING  AND  HIS  KINGDOM 

TESUS   in  His  teaching  spoke  much 

of  His  kingdom.      On  the  evening 

of  the  day   He   died,  however,  it  did 

not     seem    probable    that    He    would 

found  a  kingdom,   or   leave   anything 

behind  Him  in  this  world  that  would 

endure.    But  three  days  after  His  death 

and  burial,  He  arose.      That  changed 

everything.       It   proved    that    He   was 

divine.       A   few   weeks   later   He   met 

His   apostles   and    outlined   a   plan   for 

the     conquest     of    the    world.       The 

meeting  was    by   appointment — it  was 

not  accidental,  and  it  had  a  purpose. 

First,  Jesus  told   His  disciples   that 
169 


THE  KING  AND  HIS  KINGDOM 

all  authority  in  heaven  and  earth  had 
been  given  to  Him.  This  was  a  tre- 
mendous claim,  one  no  mere  man 
could  ever  make.  He  had  won  His 
place  as  universal  King  by  His 
humiliation.  It  warms  our  hearts  to 
remember  that  He  who  sits  on  the 
throne  of  all  power  is  a  man  like 
ourselves,  Jesus  Christ,  whom  we 
know  to  be  so  human,  so  gracious, 
so  loving.  With  all  authority  in  His 
hands,  nothing  can  ever  go  wrong 
with  us.   His  friends. 

Then  Jesus  told  His  disciples  of 
their  part.  All  authority  had  been 
given  to  Him,  but  men  did  not  yet 
own  Him  as  Lord.  "  Go  ye,  there- 
fore," He  said,  "  and  make  disciples 
of  all  the  nations."      If  the   claim   of 

Jesus    to    universal    authority    was     so 

170 


o  I 

§^. 

35  fe 

CO    -S 

M  3 

s  ^ 

J! 
CO     "^ 

X 


I 


^      ^ 


THE  KING  AND  HIS  KINGDOM 

stupendous,  this  duty  now  laid  upon 
His  followers  seemed  vast  beyond  all 
possibility.  Yet  the  words  of  the 
commission  are  so  plain  that  there 
can  be  no  mistake  as  to  their 
meaning.  That  little  handful  of  the 
Master's  followers  was  to  make  dis- 
ciples of  all  nations.  Believers  of 
to-day  are  the  successors  of  the  first 
disciples,  and  the  commission  is  theirs 
now.  Christ  is  universal  King,  but 
there  are  millions  who  still  do  not 
own  His  sway,  and  it  is  our  duty  to 
make  disciples  of  these. 

The  disciples  might  have  pleaded 
their  inability  to  do  this  vast  work. 
But  the  Master  said  that  they  were 
not  to  do  it  alone — they  and  He 
would  do  it.  ''  Lo,  I  am  with  you 
alway,     even     unto     the    end    of    the 

173 


THE  KING  AND  HIS  KINGDOM 

world."  He  was  about  to  go  away 
into  heaven  as  to  His  human  presence. 
But  He  would  return  again  in  His 
spiritual  presence  and  stay  with  His 
Church  unto  the  end.  The  promise 
was  fulfilled  and  His  disciples  went 
everywhere,  Christ  working  with  them. 
We  alone  cannot  win  men  to  Christ, 
but  if  Christ  is  with  us,  nothing  can 
resist  His  power. 


174 


THE    PARTING    BLESSING 

'  I  ^HE  last  walk  was  along  a  familiar 
way.  The  Master  and  His  dis- 
ciples had  often  gone  over  it  before, 
and  every  foot  of  it  had  its  sacred 
associations  for  them.  He  talked 
with  them  as  they  walked.  What 
would  we  not  give  to  have  the  words 
He  spoke  to  them  !  They  must  have 
been  words  of  deep  revealing,  full  of 
love.  Their  hearts  were  strangely 
comforted  by  what  He  said.  They 
never  forgot  those  farewell  words. 

We  like  to  remember  the  way  a 
friend  looked  the  last  time  we  saw 
him,    what    he    was    doing,   especially 

175 


THE    PARTING    BLESSING 

if  it  was  some  kindness  to  us.  We 
like  to  recall  the  love  that  was  on  his 
face  and  in  his  eyes,  as  he  talked  to 
us  before  he  went  away.  It  is  inter- 
esting to  think  of  the  last  glimpse 
of  Christ  the  world  had  before  the 
cloud  enfolded  Him  and  hid  Him  for 
ever  from  men's  view.  He  was  in 
the  act  of  blessing  His  disciples.  It 
was  while  His  hands  were  lifted  up, 
and  words  of  love  and  grace  were 
falling  from  His  lips,  that  He  began 
to  rise.  It  is  no  fancy  to  believe  that 
this  is  the  constant  attitude  of  Christ 
toward  the  world  inside  the  gates  of 
heaven. 

This  earth  is  not  the  only  world. 
Jesus  went  away  into  heaven,  but  His 
life  was  not  ended  when  He  vanished 

from  human    sight.     We  do  not    see 

176 


^ 


Copyright  HoUUn 


THE    ASCENSION 
By  Emit  w*  Upharl.  ConUmporary  German  School 

Tkc  Berlin  PhotoHraphU  Co.. 
133.  Sew  liond  ^I'cet,  London 


THE    PARTING    BLESSING 

Him,  but  He  sees  us.  He  is  making 
intercession  for  us  before  God.  It 
makes  heaven  very  real  to  us  to  think 
of  Christ  there.  The  first  face  we 
shall  see  when  we  reach  home  will  be 
a  face  like  our  own,  the  Face  of  our 
Master. 

Heaven  draws  upon  our  hearts,  if 
we  love  Christ.  We  are  exhorted  to 
seek  the  things  that  are  above,  where 
Christ  is  seated  on  the  right  hand  of 
God.  This  does  not  mean  that  we 
are  to  neglect  our  duties,  spending 
our  time  in  spiritual  raptures  while 
our  work  is  left  undone.  The  angels 
called  the  disciples  from  their  heaven- 
ward gazing  and  turned  their  thoughts 
to  the  duties  that  were  waiting. 

Pensive  gazing    is    not   pleasing    to 

God — working  and  witnessing  are  far 

179 


THE    PARTING    BLESSING 

better.  When  our  friends  are  taken 
from  us  we  are  not  forbidden  to  sor- 
row, but  we  are  forbidden  to  sorrow 
in  a  way  that  would  keep  us  from 
duty  and  service.  Our  Master  wants 
us  to  go  back  to  our  tasks  again  after 
a  bereavement,  thoughtful  and  serious, 
yet  earnest  and  faithful,  inspired  by 
heavenly  hopes,  but  ready  ever  for 
earthly  duties. 


UNWIN  BROTHERS,  LIMITED,  THE  GRESHAM  PRESS,  WOKING  AND  LONDON. 
I  80 


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